We've Come This Far...

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Just an observation on the currently fashionable proposition that nuclear power will be the saviour of us all in the energy/climate stakes. Simply put: no it won't; and for a number of fairly common sense reasons. First off, you have to ask yourself 'Is this source of energy cleaner than coal, gas or oil?' In terms of immediate emissions, one would have to say yes. But as far as long-term pollution issues? Definitely not. Traditional nuclear technology by default produces large quantities of enormously damaging radioactive waste as a matter of course, which will be a significant issue, going forward many thousands of years into human history. Even the Small Modular [nuclear] Reactors that are now de rigeur in the thinking of politicians and governments pose just the same long term problems. And this is discounting the damaging effects of nuclear accidents: whilst still small in number, events such as these have far-reaching effects: even today, there is still an environmental impact from the world's first such event: the 1957 Windscale fire in Cumbria. Yes, there are other nuclear technologies out there that mitigate some of the operational risks and long term pollution, such as the Molten Salt Reactor design; but it still carries inherent risk and the de facto concomitant pollution factor common to all nuclear power generation. Nuclear power generation is simply kicking the issue down the road: it's not the solution. As for coal, oil and gas: also not a viable ongoing solution. Environmentally, they're already a proven and continuing planetary disaster. We have made huge strides toward clean, naturally-produced [wind, solar, geothermal, tidal] energy already. The impetus of governments going forward should be in these areas of energy production, and sod the vested interests of the fossil fuel and nuclear lobbies. This is far too important an issue to fanny about with just to serve the corrupt forces of capitalism and line the pockets of the undeserving at the expense of our planet. And as for any sane long-term cost/benefit analysis: no contest...

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