DOES THE NUCLEAR OPTION PROVIDE A SOLUTION TO GLOBAL WARMING?
Alice Cutler 25.4.2005 Despite the promise to make 2005 the year that politicians would face up to the challenges of climate change the topic remains a low priority in the election campaign and plans continue for new roads, airport expansions and business as usual. I can only conclude that there is a deep-seated denial in our society about the seriousness of the situation we face. The G8 countries account for 12% of the world’s population and 62% of the total greenhouse gas emissions. It is crucial that we cut our carbon emissions by 60%-90% to avert the catastrophic consequences of climate change, (IPCC). One sign that people are beginning to acknowledge something has to be done is the incredible resurgence of the nuclear power option, once again being hailed as the clean, safe, carbon-neutral way to produce electricity. James Lovelock, author of Gaia, famously came out in favour of nuclear power as an option to reduce the threat than global warming caused by the burning of fossil fue
