A rather surprising news item was released today. Prominent climate scientist James Hansen and 3 other climate scientists are imploring world leaders and environmentalists to back an increase in nuclear power to offset climate change.
They believe that wind and solar cannot deliver enough clean energy quickly enough to cause the necessary decrease in fossil fuel (read: coal) electricity.
"Those energy sources cannot scale up fast enough" to deliver the amount of cheap and reliable power the world needs, and "with the planet warming and carbon dioxide emissions rising faster than ever, we cannot afford to turn away from any technology" that has the potential to reduce greenhouse gases.
The move can be seen as unexpected because so many env'al groups like Greenpeace are staunchly opposed to nuclear power. I find the announcement to be interesting as my own view on nuclear power has wavered over recent years. The Fukushima disaster certainly swayed many people from the prospect of nukes as both Japan and Germany resolved to phase out their use of nuclear power shortly after the March 2011 Japanese quake.
Stephen Ansolabehere, a Harvard professor who studies energy issues, said nuclear power is "very divisive" within the environmental movement. But he added that the letter could help educate the public about the difficult choices that climate change presents.
Although I do not believe my mind to be very easily swayed, this letter may be enough to get me to rethink my own opposition to nukes which has persisted for over 3 years after reading
this book. I have a ton of respect for Hansen and would have a difficult time questioning his findings on this matter.
Climate Change is the biggest issue facing humanity now, and maybe ever. Doing things differently is undeniably necessary. Is more nuclear power a step in the right direction?
The full letter can be read HERE.