Who is in favor of and opposed to nuclear energy in Europe, and why?
Who is in favor of and opposed to nuclear energy in Europe, and why?
The advantages and disadvantages of nuclear energy are examined, along with which European nations support and oppose it, by Euronews Business.Because of its terrible past, the term “nuclear” frequently raises eyebrows, and many people are hesitant to accept it as a dependable and secure source of energy.Some contend that because it doesn’t release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere like fossil fuels do, it is one of the cleanest energy sources. On the other side, nuclear waste causes long-lasting environmental problems and is dangerous for thousands of years.Nevertheless, a number of European nations view nuclear energy as one of the greatest solutions to the climate change problem and believe it is necessary for their economic existence.
Nations that support nuclear energy
After the terrifying Fukushima accident in Japan in 2011, there is still disagreement in Europe over who owns the growing number of nuclear power facilities.
Nuclear energy has been totally phased out for the production of power in Lithuania and Italy. On the other hand, France has supported nuclear energy as a low-carbon energy source. Furthermore, Poland, Hungary, Finland, Italy, Croatia, and Bulgaria have all backed France’s nuclear ambitions. As of August 2023, France was home to 56 of the 163 nuclear reactors in Europe.
Europe has a long history with nuclear energy, as seen by the 27 member nations’ 13 functioning nuclear power stations, which supply about 25% of the continent’s electricity.
Nations that are against nuclear power.
Considering the risks and difficulties associated with nuclear power, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, and Spain intend to phase out their nuclear industries.
Given the shifting geopolitics of energy, these nations have intended to utterly renounce their nuclear energy aspirations, albeit they will not phase it out entirely.
The European Commission claims that between 2006 and 2020, the 27-nation European Union saw a 25% overall decrease in the amount of electricity generated by splitting atoms due to hostility to nuclear power.
Nuclear energy has more hope as technology advances.
It’s interesting to note that a recent poll conducted by the Hungarian Foundation shows that all EU member states’ opinions of nuclear energy are becoming more positive. Its findings show that the percentage of people who are against nuclear energy has decreased from 26% to 15%.
The benefits of nuclear energy, which greatly contribute to lowering greenhouse gas emissions and the carbon footprint while ensuring future energy sustainability, should be credited with this shift in public opinion.
There are still issues and conflicting opinions.
On the other hand, let’s acknowledge that there is a possibility that nuclear accidents, such as those that occurred at Chernobyl or Fukushima, might have catastrophic effects on populations throughout the world.
Before nuclear power plants can begin operations, their infrastructures also need to be developed and invested in heavily. After it is operational, the waste poses a threat since getting rid of it safely can be quite difficult. As a result, opinions about nuclear energy are split across Europe.
