Peace River Environmental Society
Nuclear Information
http://www.css.org.au/documents/NuclearPower-CureorCurse.pdf
Introduction
When the nuclear genie came out of the bottle during the Second World
War, the world changed forever. With the splitting of the atom came
immense power for those who possessed it and potential destruction for
those who did not. For the first time in history, human beings now had
the ability to annihilate whole cities and states at the flick of a
switch, without directly risking fatalities of their own. The bombings
of Hiroshima and Nagasaki are stark reminders of the catastrophic
repercussions of splitting the atom.
As nuclear weapons fast became the ultimate instrument of state power
and various governments sought to acquire them, nuclear scientists
quickly highlighted the peaceful potential of nuclear technology in
providing an alternative source of energy. In 1946, the first nuclear
power reactor was built at Sellafield in the United Kingdom.
Since then, 30 countries have developed nuclear power programmes of
their own, with 16% of global electricity production generated by
nuclear reactors. The contribution nuclear power has made in providing
an alternative energy source to fossil fuels has been profound. France,
for instance, generates more than 70% of its electricity from nuclear
power.
Since the development of nuclear power however, a plethora of
fundamental concerns relating to radiation, safety and accidents,
ongoing problems with storing nuclear waste, and the dangers associated
with terrorism and the proliferation of nuclear weapons have plagued the
industry. More than half a century after the first nuclear power station
started operation, these issues are yet to be resolved.
During the 1980s and 1990s, the nuclear power industry experienced a
severe downturn, with no new reactors built in the USA after the Three
Mile Island accident in 1979. Since the turn of the century, however,
the industry has enjoyed renewed interest, with supporters insisting
that it contributes in two vital ways: by providing energy security and
reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The world’s main energy supplies are
concentrated in small pockets around the globe, and as a result, many
countries are extremely vulnerable to fluctuating energy supplies and
energy price increases. Instability in regions rich in energy resources
exacerbates price-hikes that can have severe repercussions on domestic
economies elsewhere. In a bid to strengthen energy security by creating
a viable indigenous supply, proponents of nuclear power insist it is the
right option to decrease the dependence on foreign energy supply by
generating energy independence.
The second and most important role nuclear power can fill, according to
its supporters, relates to it allegedly representing a clean and green
energy source. The realisation that burning fossil fuels is heating up
our planet at an alarming rate has aroused public opinion to demand the
replacement of traditional forms of energy production. Under the guise
of combating climate change, the nuclear power industry has successfully
relaunched a global campaign to increase its role as an energy-
generating industry.1 Global warming refers to the sustained increase in
the average temperature of the earth’s atmosphere; if it continues
unabated, there will be dire consequences for our planet.2 With excess
heat in the atmosphere, over time a number of adverse consequences are
becoming apparent, including rising sea levels and changing
precipitation patterns affecting water supplies and threatening crop
yields. According to the great majority of climate scientists, the
impact of global warming is already plain to see, with the melting of
polar icecaps and glaciers, Atlantic hurricane data and severe drought
in Australia all providing powerful indicators supporting international
consensus that climate change is a reality. With greenhouse gas
emissions from burning fossil fuels widely recognised to be primarily
responsible for global warming, most climate scientists agree that the
international community needs to act now to avoid catastrophic climactic
conditions.
Unfortunately, nuclear power does not promise an immediate or
significant reduction in Australia’s greenhouse emissions. The first
reactor to begin operation in Australia is at least 15 years away.
Considering the lengthy planning process, licensing, popular protest and
approving reactor sites, to name but a few of the many obstacles that
face new-build operations, it is more realistic to assume that the first
reactor could start full-scale operations by around 2022. According to
the International World Information Service on Energy, 2,000 new 1000MW
(megawatts) nuclear power reactors are required to make a sizable dent
in global greenhouse gas emissions.3 Nevertheless, because uranium is a
finite resource, the world supply of uranium would be exhausted
relatively quickly.4
This report will examine if nuclear power represents a cost-effective,
clean and safe form of energy generation. If nuclear power is the answer
to climate change, it needs to address a number of fundamental issues.
There remain legitimate concerns for public health, and its safety
record needs close scrutiny. Fundamental problems with how to dispose of
radioactive materials that remain hazardous for hundreds of thousands of
years are still to be solved. Concerns about nuclear proliferation are
also serious because ultimately the only difference between a civilian
and military nuclear programme is one of intent. Moreover, the export of
Australian uranium frees up indigenous supplies for the manufacture of
atomic weapons. After more than 50 years of operation these issues have
not gone away and remain at the centre of the debate on nuclear power.
References
1. Ian Lowe, ‘If nuclear power is the answer, it must have been a pretty
stupid question’, in Jim Green (ed.), Nuclear power: No solution
to climate change, Friends of the Earth, Melbourne, 2006, p. 12.
2. See Australian Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Organisation,
Climate change in Australia: Impacts, adaptation and vulnerability,
Climate Adaptation Flagship, 2007.
3. A Makhijani, ‘Nuclear power: No answer to global climate change,’
Nukewatch Pathfinder, Autumn, 2002, p.6.
4. International Atomic Energy Agency, Nuclear technology review,
Vienna, 2006, pp. 69-75.