Should environmentalists embrace nuclear?

The authors advocate for an evidence-based approach to energy transitions, arguing that a mix including substantial nuclear power is superior to fossil-fuel-dominated or purely renewable scenarios in terms of safety, cost, and land transformation. They specifically call for the removal of federal prohibitions on nuclear energy in Australia to facilitate the displacement of fossil fuels and the protection of wildlife habitats.

• An energy mix that includes nuclear power is identified as having the lowest impact on wildlife and ecosystems compared to other options, which is critical given the current state of global biodiversity.
• When evaluated against alternatives across criteria including safety, cost, scaleability, reliability, land transformation, and emissions, nuclear power performs as well as or better than other energy options. A scenario featuring a 50% nuclear contribution combined with renewables and fossil fuels with carbon-capture-and-storage performed better overall than 'business as usual' or high renewable-only scenarios.
• The authors highlight the potential of next-generation nuclear power currently being developed in China and Russia to provide emissions-free electricity by recycling energy sources, consuming waste, and minimizing biodiversity impacts.
• In Australia, the use of nuclear energy for electricity generation is currently prohibited at the federal level by the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, a restriction the authors argue must be changed to effectively displace fossil fuels.

APA

Brook, B. W., & Bradshaw, C. (2014). Should environmentalists embrace nuclear? World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/stories/energy-transition/should-environmentalists-embrace-nuclear/

Chicago

Brook, Barry W., and Corey Bradshaw. Should environmentalists embrace nuclear? World Economic Forum, 2014. https://www.weforum.org/stories/energy-transition/should-environmentalists-embrace-nuclear/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Brook |first1=Barry W. |last2=Bradshaw |first2=Corey |title=Should environmentalists embrace nuclear? |publisher=World Economic Forum |date=16 December 2014 |url=https://www.weforum.org/stories/energy-transition/should-environmentalists-embrace-nuclear/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{brook2014should, author = {Brook, Barry W. and Bradshaw, Corey}, title = {{Should environmentalists embrace nuclear?}}, publisher = {World Economic Forum}, year = {2014}, month = dec, url = {https://www.weforum.org/stories/energy-transition/should-environmentalists-embrace-nuclear/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }