Nuclear in Germany
Despite strong opposition by proponents of both green energy and traditional energy production, I believe that Germany should strongly reconsider their decision to phase out nuclear energy by April 2023 and turn to nuclear as a backup to green energy. Nuclear energy produces energy far more efficiently than its competitors, produces much less waste overall, and is a reliable alternative when other sources of green energy fail.
While it is understood that a great stigma surrounds nuclear energy, I think these fears are misplaced. For example, fear surrounding nuclear radiation and potential exposure to cancer is high. However, A study conducted by Harvard’s school of Engineering has found that over 8 million people worldwide have died from pollution emissions in the year 2016 alone. Pollution from nuclear radiation is centralized and based in a specific location, so while deaths due to nuclear deaths have been tragic and unnecessary, the total deaths due to nuclear radiation pale when compared to the toll that pollution emissions take. In 2018, Harvard found that 1 in 5 deaths worldwide were due to carbon emissions. Furthermore, 34 billion tons of CO2 are released each year, while nuclear energy produces only 2,000 tons of waste a year while still delivering a comparable amount of energy. Technologies surrounding nuclear waste have become extremely advanced as well. Waste is diluted via silicon and glass to increase surface area of the radiated substance dramatically decreasing the nuclear substance’s half-life. Some nuclear waste is stored deep underground which I do not consider to be an issue considering the Earth already receives 80% of its heat from internal nuclear decay in the core, mantle, and crust. While I recognize that strategies dealing with nuclear waste are still weak and still require further innovations. I prefer these shortcomings to simply pumping the pollution in the air as coal and fossil fuels do.
The use of nuclear energy would decrease costs on the consumer side and would work as a cheaper alternative to expensive carbon products. A carbon tax or other form of increased carbon costs would push people towards nuclear energy naturally as a cheaper and cleaner alternative. My party, the CDU, would probably agree with me as well.
Deaths from fossil fuel emissions higher than previously thought (harvard.edu)
