(Washington Insider Magazine) -A coalition of ten European Union countries penned a letter to the European Commission to categorize nuclear power as a “green” energy source. The group of ten countries was led by France and included Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Finland, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Romania. The letter penned by these countries argues that nuclear energy is not only a low-carbon energy source but also an independent energy resource.
As demand for natural gas rises globally, prices for natural gas and oil have skyrocketed within the European Union. As COVID-19 restrictions are gradually lifted, economies have reopened causing a shock to the energy market. As 90% of the EU’s natural gas supply comes from foreign importers, namely Russia, the states involved in the push for nuclear power are seeking a path to more energy generated within EU trade zone.
There is an active debate as to which resources should be included within the “EU Green Taxonomy” which is a guidebook used by governments and investors to determine which energy sources will fit into the Paris Climate Agreement or otherwise fall short. On the other end of the spectrum is a coalition led by Germany, where the plan is to shut down all nuclear reactors by 2022. Other countries in the contingent of countries in the anti-nuclear cause include Austria, Denmark, Luxembourg, and Spain.
In order to qualify for the existing framework, the energy source in question must make a substantial contribution to at least one EU climate objective without significantly curtailing efforts in other criteria. Other sectors that are currently a part of the structure include solar, geothermal, hydrogen, wind power, hydropower, and bioenergy. While nuclear energy is notably considered a non-renewable energy source, an EU report concluded that the greenhouse gas emissions from nuclear plants are similar to renewable sources such as wind energy.
Opponents to widespread nuclear use argue that radioactive waste is harmful to humans and the environment. Moreover, notable nuclear disasters such as Chernobyl and Fukushima weigh on the minds of the public due to the extreme nature of the fallout.
Meanwhile, in Japan where the Fukushima accident occurred, there is also a debate to return to nuclear power with Japan’s new prime minister calling for a restart. Japan, like members of the EU, is among the largest contributors to carbon pollution. As COP26 approaches, other major economic powers such as the United States and Great Britain have reaffirmed their plans to reduce carbon emissions to reach carbon neutrality by 2050. Advocates of nuclear energy will argue that nuclear is an important part of this plan.
Ultimately, the debate is unlikely to meet its conclusion in the near future. Nuclear energy is a powerful source of energy, that could contribute to the reduction of carbon emission while maintaining the same levels of energy the world economy needs. However, for others, the dramatic nature of a nuclear accident will stay deeply ingrained in society.
