Obviously, these nuclear preachers ignored the green technologies that nowadays are applied to produce energy. Think for example about wind and sun energy. But even if these new innovations are excluded from the debate due to their ambiguous performances, nuclear energy can’t particularly be called a sustainable energy source.
In order to be able to answer the question if nuclear energy is sustainable or not, we must find out the definition of ‘sustainable’. A sustainable energy source is defined as a source whose present usage doesn’t change or influence the living environment of future generations. Let’s investigate if that applies to the case of nuclear energy.
It is true that a nuclear reactor doesn’t emit CO2 into the air in the process of producing energy. So global warming could theoretically be halted by switching to nuclear energy. Gas, oil and coal currently hold the position of main energy source. Burning of these fuels has caused the concentrations of CO2 to strongly increase, which in turn has started the rapid warming of the global atmosphere.
However, uranium is, like gas, oil and coal, a depletable energy source. This means that the uranium that is used in the present can’t be replaced in short term, unlike wood for example. Future generations will eventually be confronted with a shortage of uranium if mankind would really switch to nuclear energy, like we are now confronted with shortage of oil and gas.
On top of this, the nuclear waste products are not quite to be called ‘sustainable’ either. The only solution to get rid of these highly poisonous sources of radioactive nuclear waste is to stash it deep under the earth. Future generations will have to deal with the consequences once nuclear waste is exposed to the surface due to, for instance, an earthquake.
Earthquakes and other nature disasters cannot be ignored in this debate either. These forces have caused leakage of nuclear energy plants before. A small leak of radioactive particles is able to expose the entire ocean and wreck many of its ecosystems within. Humans and animals alike will not be spared.
So please, do not listen to people who praise this so called ‘sustainable’ energy source. Rather, focus on new revolutionary technologies such as artificial photosynthesis, which is not only able to produce electricity, but can also create fuel out of water and draw CO2 out of the atmosphere and convert it into usable sugars.
It is this kind of technologies that allow us to cherish our values such as safety and health. Future generations won’t have to clean up after us, but can profit from our efforts in green technology. The only way to get this far, is to not give in to major commercial companies forcing us into dirty radioactive energy sources and invest in truly sustainable technologies instead.