Climate change is a serious issue that needs to be addressed but there is a danger that the only solutions are seen as those proposed by the more extreme groups like Just Stop Oil. We need practical solutions such as nuclear power.
I was a Green Party activist for more than 20 years and stood as a candidate numerous times but felt I had to leave because of this issue.
I had always been anti-nuclear, believing the myths that it was dangerous, the waste problem unsolvable and that it would lead to more nuclear weapons. I was wrong.Nuclear power is one of the safest – if not the safest – forms of energy and provides abundant, clean energy free of CO2 emissions.
The volumes of nuclear waste are small – and can often reused to provide more energy – and can be safely stored.
As for the link with nuclear weapons – neither the physics nor the technologies are the same, nor are the institutions that manage the two technologies.
We need to stop using fossil fuels but, to do so, we need to expand nuclear power as it can provide a base load that intermittent renewables cannot.
We will need more energy to adapt to a warming climate and as developing countries develop, they will need even more energy to raise living standards. Nuclear provides that clean energy.
Groups such as Emergency Reactor and Generation Atomic campaign for nuclear energy and provide a positive way to campaign to address climate change.
We need technology like nuclear energy for progress and to raise living standards for all. Mark Dawes, via email
