Pro-nuclear energy movement

Proponents of nuclear energy contend that nuclear power is safe, and a sustainable energy source that reduces carbon emissions and increases energy security by decreasing dependence on imported energy sources.

Context

File:Baxter Oliphant (1954).jpg (left), Homi Jehangir Bhabha (centre) and Philip Baxter, share a cup of tea]]

Nuclear energy is often considered to be a controversial area of public policy.Sustainable Development Commission. [http://www.sd-commission.org.uk/publications/downloads/IsNuclearTheAnswer.pdf Is Nuclear the Answer?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140322043200/http://www.sd-commission.org.uk/publications/downloads/IsNuclearTheAnswer.pdf |date=2014-03-22 }} p. 12.Sustainable Development Commission. [http://www.sd-commission.org.uk/publications/downloads/Nuclear_public_engagement-briefing.pdf Public engagement and nuclear power] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217022808/http://www.sd-commission.org.uk/publications/downloads/Nuclear_public_engagement-briefing.pdf |date=2012-02-17 }} The debate about nuclear power peaked during the 1970s and 1980s, when it "reached an intensity unprecedented in the history of technology controversies", in some countries.{{cite journal |author=Herbert P. Kitschelt |date=1986 |title=Political Opportunity and Political Protest: Anti-Nuclear Movements in Four Democracies |url=http://www.marcuse.org/harold/hmimages/seabrook/861KitscheltAntiNuclear4Democracies.pdf |journal=British Journal of Political Science |volume=16 |issue=1 |page=57 |doi=10.1017/s000712340000380x|s2cid=154479502 }}{{cite book |last=Falk |first=Jim |date=1982|title=Global Fission: The Battle Over Nuclear Power |url=https://archive.org/details/globalfissionbat00falk |url-access=registration |location = Melbourne |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-554315-5}}

Proponents of nuclear energy point to the fact that nuclear power produces very little conventional air pollution, greenhouse gases, and smog, in contrast to fossil fuel sources of energy.{{cite news |last=Patterson |first=Thom |date=2013-11-03 |title=Climate change warriors: It's time to go nuclear |url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/03/world/nuclear-energy-climate-change-scientists/index.html |newspaper=CNN}} Proponents also argue that perceived risks of storing waste are exaggerated, and point to an operational safety record in the Western world which is excellent in comparison to the other major kinds of power plants.{{cite book

|author=Bernard L. Cohen

|date=1990

|title=The Nuclear Energy Option: An Alternative for the 90s

|url=https://archive.org/details/nuclearenergyopt0000cohe

|location=New York

|publisher=Plenum Press

|isbn=978-0-306-43567-6

|url-access=registration

}} Historically, there have been numerous proponents of nuclear energy, including Georges Charpak, Glenn T. Seaborg, Edward Teller, Alvin M. Weinberg, Eugene Wigner, Ted Taylor, and Jeff Eerkens. There are also scientists who write favorably about nuclear energy in terms of the broader energy landscape, including Robert B. Laughlin, Michael McElroy, and Vaclav Smil. In particular, Laughlin writes in "Powering the Future" (2011) that expanded use of nuclear power will be nearly inevitable, either because of a political choice to leave fossil fuels in the ground, or because fossil fuels become depleted.

Lobbying and public relations activities

Globally, there are dozens of companies with an interest in the nuclear industry, including Areva, BHP, Cameco, China National Nuclear Corporation, EDF, Iberdrola, Nuclear Power Corporation of India, Ontario Power Generation, Rosatom, Tokyo Electric Power Company, and Vattenfall. Many of these companies lobby politicians and others about nuclear power expansion, undertake public relation activities, petition government authorities, as well as influence public policy through referendum campaigns and involvement in elections.{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/nov/28/nuclear-lobbyists-senior-civil-servants |title=Nuclear lobbyists wined and dined senior civil servants, documents show |author=Leo Hickman |date=28 November 2012 |work=The Guardian }}{{cite web |title=The Campaign to Sell Nuclear |author=Diane Farseta |date=September 1, 2008 |volume=64 |issue=4 |work=Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists |pages=38–56 }}Jonathan Leake. "The Nuclear Charm Offensive" New Statesman, 23 May 2005.Union of Concerned Scientists. [http://www.ucsusa.org/news/media_alerts/nuclear-industry-spent-millions-to-sell-congress-on-new-reactors-0343.html Nuclear Industry Spent Hundreds of Millions of Dollars Over the Last Decade to Sell Public, Congress on New Reactors, New Investigation Finds] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131127112542/http://www.ucsusa.org/news/media_alerts/nuclear-industry-spent-millions-to-sell-congress-on-new-reactors-0343.html |date=2013-11-27 }} News Center, February 1, 2010.[https://web.archive.org/web/20100415084551/http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9EHS0580.htm Nuclear group spent $460,000 lobbying in 4Q] Business Week, March 19, 2010.

The nuclear industry has "tried a variety of strategies to persuade the public to accept nuclear power", including the publication of numerous "fact sheets" that discuss issues of public concern.{{cite web |url=http://bos.sagepub.com/content/67/4/43.abstract |title=Nuclear power and the public |author=M.V. Ramana |date=July 2011 |volume=67 |issue=4 |work=Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists |page=46 |author-link=M.V. Ramana }} Nuclear proponents have worked to boost public support by offering newer, safer, reactor designs. These designs include those that incorporate passive safety and Small Modular Reactors.

Since 2000 the nuclear industry has undertaken an international media and lobbying campaign to promote nuclear power as a solution to the greenhouse effect and climate change. Though reactor operation is free of carbon dioxide emissions, other stages of the nuclear fuel chain – from uranium mining, to reactor decommissioning and radioactive waste management – use fossil fuels and hence emit carbon dioxide.

The Nuclear Energy Institute has formed various sub-groups to promote nuclear power. These include the Washington-based Clean and Safe Energy Coalition, which was formed in 2006 and led by Patrick Moore. Christine Todd Whitman, former head of the USEPA has also been involved. [https://cleanpower.org/ Clean Energy America] is another group also sponsored by the NEI.Sharon Beder (2014). Lobbying, greenwash and deliberate confusion: how vested interests undermine climate change. In M. C-T. Huang and R. R-C Huang (Eds.), Green Thoughts and Environmental Politics: Green Trends and Environmental Politics (pp. 297-328), Taipei, Taiwan: Asia-seok Digital Technology.

In Britain, James Lovelock well known for his Gaia Hypothesis began to support nuclear power in 2004. He is patron of the Supporters of Nuclear Energy. SONE also recognise that there are serious technical challenges associated with an electric grid reliant on intermittent and low-density sources of energy. The main nuclear lobby group in Britain is FORATOM.

As of 2014, the U.S. nuclear industry has begun a new lobbying effort, hiring three former senators — Evan Bayh, a Democrat; Judd Gregg, a Republican; and Spencer Abraham, a Republican — as well as William M. Daley, a former staffer to President Obama. The initiative is called Nuclear Matters, and it has begun a newspaper advertising campaign.{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/28/business/energy-environment/nuclear-industry-gains-carbon-focused-allies-in-push-to-save-reactors.html?_r=0 |title=Nuclear Industry Gains Carbon-Focused Allies in Push to Save Reactors |author=Matthew Wald |date=April 27, 2014 |work=New York Times }}

Organizations supporting nuclear power

In March 2017, a bipartisan group of eight senators, including five Republicans and three Democrats introduced S. 512, the Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act (NEIMA). The legislation would help to modernize the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), support the advancement of the nation's nuclear industry and develop the regulatory framework to enable the licensing of advanced nuclear reactors, while improving the efficiency of uranium regulation. Letters of support for this legislation were [https://www.epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2017/3/bipartisan-group-of-senators-introduce-nuclear-energy-innovation-and-modernization-act provided by thirty-six organizations], including for profit enterprises, non-profit organizations and educational institutions. The most prominent entities from that group and other well-known organizations actively supporting the continued or expanded use of nuclear power as a solution for providing clean, reliable energy include:

The Alvin Weinberg Foundation{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}
American Nuclear Society (ANS){{cite web | title=About the American Nuclear Society -- ANS | website=American Nuclear Society -- ANS | date=7 August 2024 | url=https://www.ans.org/about/ | access-date=15 August 2024}}
Battelle Memorial Institute{{cite web | title=History | website=Anniversary Site | date=3 October 1929 | url=https://solvers.battelle.org/90/history/industrial-age | access-date=15 August 2024}}
Breakthrough Institute{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}
Canadian Nuclear Society{{cite web | title=Canadian Nuclear Society | website=Canadian Nuclear Society - CNS - | date=25 November 2021 | url=https://www.cns-snc.ca/about-cns/ | access-date=16 August 2024}}
Canadian Nuclear Association{{cite web | title=Canadian Nuclear Association | website=Canadian Nuclear Association | date=4 February 2022 | url=https://cna.ca/about-cna/ | access-date=16 August 2024}}
Center for Strategic and International Studies{{cite web | last=Horschig | first=Doreen | title=International Security Program | website=CSIS | url=https://www.csis.org/programs/international-security-program/project-nuclear-issues | access-date=16 August 2024}}
ClearPath Foundation{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}
Earth Institute{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}
Ecomodernists{{citation needed|date=August 2022}}
Environmentalists for Nuclear{{citation needed|date=August 2022}}
Environmentalists for Nuclear Energy Australia{{citation needed|date=August 2022}}
European Atomic Forum{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}
[http://generationatomic.org Generation Atomic]
International Nuclear Societies Council{{citation needed|date=January 2022}} representing thirty-six national nuclear societies from around the world.
Long Now Foundation{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}
The Nuclear Energy Institute{{citation needed|date=January 2022}} (NEI is the main lobby group for companies doing nuclear work in the U.S.)
Nuclear Institute{{citation needed|date=January 2022}} (Formerly the British Nuclear Energy Society (BNES) and the Institution of Nuclear Engineers (INucE), representing nuclear professionals in the U.K.)
[https://www.nuclearny.org Nuclear New York]
Third Way{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}
Thorium Energy Alliance{{citation needed|date=January 2022}} is an association studying and advocating for advanced reactor designs.
The World Nuclear Association,{{Cite web |title=World Nuclear Association joins UN movement dedicated to delivering 24/7 carbon-free energy - World Nuclear Association |url=https://world-nuclear.org/press/press-statements/world-nuclear-association-joins-un-movement-dedica.aspx |access-date=2023-01-11 |website=world-nuclear.org}} the global trade body for nuclear energy

The United States generates about 19% of its electricity from nuclear power plants. Nearly 60% of all clean energy generated in the U.S. comes from nuclear power.{{citation needed|date=January 2022}} Studies have shown that closing a nuclear power plant results in greatly increased carbon emissions as only burning coal or natural gas can make up for the massive amount of energy lost from a nuclear power plant.{{citation needed|date=January 2022}} Even though there have long been protests against nuclear power, the effect of long-term scrutiny has elevated safety within the industry, making nuclear power the safest form of energy in operation today, despite the fact that many continue to fear it.{{citation needed|date=January 2022}} Nuclear power plants create thousands of jobs, many in health and safety jobs, and seldom experience protests from area residents, as they bring large amounts of economic activity, attract educated employees and leave the air clear safe, unlike oil, coal or gas plants, which bring disease and environmental damage to their workers and neighbors.{{citation needed|date=January 2022}} Nuclear engineers have traditionally worked, directly or indirectly, in the nuclear power industry, in academia or for national laboratories. More recently, young nuclear engineers have started to innovate and launch new companies, becoming entrepreneurs in order to bring their enthusiasm for using the power of the atom to address the climate crisis. As of June 2015, Third Way released a report identifying 48 nuclear start-ups or projects organized to work on nuclear innovations in what is being called "advanced nuclear" designs.{{Cite web|url=http://www.thirdway.org/infographic/the-advanced-nuclear-industry-2016-update|title=The Advanced Nuclear Industry: 2016 Update|website=Third Way|language=en|access-date=2017-07-14}} Current research in the industry is directed at producing economical, proliferation-resistant reactor designs with passive safety features. Although government labs research the same areas as industry, they also study a myriad of other issues such as nuclear fuels and nuclear fuel cycles, advanced reactor designs, and nuclear weapon design and maintenance. A principal pipeline for trained personnel for US reactor facilities is the Navy Nuclear Power Program. The job outlook for nuclear engineering from the year 2012 to the year 2022 is predicted to grow 9% due to many elder nuclear engineers retiring, safety systems needing to be updated in power plants, and the advancements made in nuclear medicine.[http://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/nuclear-engineers.htm#tab-6 "Nuclear Engineers – Job Outlook"] in Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2014–15. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor

Individuals supporting nuclear power

{{See also|Nuclear power in Australia#Advocates for nuclear power}}

A pragmatic need for secure energy supply is a leading reason for many to support nuclear energy. Many people, including former opponents of nuclear energy, now say that nuclear energy is necessary for reducing carbon dioxide emissions. They recognize that the threat to humanity from climate change is far worse than any risk associated with nuclear energy. Many nuclear energy supporters, but not all, acknowledge that renewable energy is also important to the effort to eliminate emissions. Early environmentalists who publicly voiced support for nuclear power include James Lovelock, originator of the Gaia hypothesis, Patrick Moore, an early member of Greenpeace and former president of Greenpeace Canada, George Monbiot and Stewart Brand, creator of the Whole Earth Catalog.[http://www.technologyreview.com/article/16398/ Environmental Heresies][https://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/27/science/earth/27tier.html?ex=1330405200&en=e561a6494b06049d&ei=5124&partner=digg&exprod=digg An Early Environmentalist, Embracing New ‘Heresies’] Lovelock goes further to refute claims about the danger of nuclear energy and its waste products.[http://www.ecolo.org/lovelock/ James Lovelock] In a January 2008 interview, Moore said that "It wasn't until after I'd left Greenpeace and the climate change issue started coming to the forefront that I started rethinking energy policy in general and realized that I had been incorrect in my analysis of nuclear as being some kind of evil plot."{{Cite web | url=http://www.news.com/From-eco-warrior-to-nuclear-champion/2008-13840_3-6228461.html | title=Technology News}} There are increasing numbers of scientists and laymen who are environmentalists with views that depart from the mainstream environmental stance that rejects a role for nuclear power in the climate fight (once labelled "Nuclear Greens,"{{cite web|title=Rise of the Nuclear Greens|author=Robert Bryce|url=http://www.city-journal.org/2013/23_1_snd-atomic-energy.html|website=City Journal|date=Winter 2013|access-date=5 November 2013|author-link=Robert Bryce (writer)}} some now consider themselves Ecomodernists).

Other academics and professionals, alarmed by the exaggerated impact media coverage of nuclear accidents have formed a group called Scientists for Accurate Radiation Information (SARI).{{Cite web |title=Radiation Effects {{!}} Effects of Radiation explained by the Scientists for Accurate Radiation Information |url=https://radiationeffects.org/ |access-date=2022-05-30 |language=en-US}} This was formed after a tsunami in Japan in 2011 caused an accidental release at Fukushima Daiichi, local people were unnecessarily relocated and psychologically stressed by false fears. This evacuation is estimated to have produced increased mortality rates equivalent to 2,313 deaths.{{Cite web |title=What was the death toll from Chernobyl and Fukushima? |url=https://ourworldindata.org/what-was-the-death-toll-from-chernobyl-and-fukushima |access-date=2023-05-14 |website=Our World in Data}} This effective suffering is known as the ‘nocebo’ effect and describes a situation where a negative outcome occurs due to a belief that an intervention will cause harm.

Others who have spoken publicly on the benefits of nuclear power include:

= Scientists =

File:James Hansen profile.jpg]]

File:Barry W Brook.jpg]]

Hans Blix, Director General Emeritus of the IAEA{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}
Ben Britton, deputy director of the Centre for Nuclear Engineering, Imperial College London{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}
Ken Caldeira, Stanford University{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}
Georges Charpak, Polish-born French physicist{{cite journal | doi=10.1038/4671048a | title=Georges Charpak (1924–2010) | year=2010 | last1=Giomataris | first1=Ioannis | journal=Nature | volume=467 | issue=7319 | page=1048 | pmid=20981084 | s2cid=4410681 | doi-access=free | bibcode=2010Natur.467.1048G }}
Stephen Chu, former U.S. Secretary of Energy, former Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}
Kerry Emanuel, Professor of Atmospheric Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}
Ian Fells{{Cite web |last=McCusker |first=Peter |date=2016-02-10 |title=Newcastle company at forefront of technology for small nuclear reactors |url=http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/business/business-news/newcastle-company-forefront-technology-small-10869984 |access-date=2022-05-30 |website=ChronicleLive |language=en}}
Martin Freer, Head of Physics and Astronomy, University of Birmingham, Director of the Birmingham Energy Institute (BEI){{citation needed|date=January 2022}}
Richard Garwin, American physicist{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}
James Hansen{{cite web|last1=James Hansen|title=Nuclear power paves the only viable path forward on climate change |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/dec/03/nuclear-power-paves-the-only-viable-path-forward-on-climate-change|date=3 December 2015|website=The Guardian|access-date=8 June 2016}} Director of Climate Science, Awareness, and Solutions Program and the Earth Institute, Columbia University
David Keith{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}
James Lovelock{{cite web|last1=James Lovelock|title=Nuclear power is the only green solution|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/commentators/james-lovelock-nuclear-power-is-the-only-green-solution-6169341.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011045309/http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/commentators/james-lovelock-nuclear-power-is-the-only-green-solution-6169341.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 11, 2012|date=24 May 2004|website=The Independent|access-date=12 December 2014}}
David J. C. MacKay{{cite video |url=http://www.ted.com/talks/david_mackay_a_reality_check_on_renewables.html |author=David MacKay |title=A reality check on renewables |date=March 2012 |access-date=12 October 2012}}{{cite book |author=Mackay, David |title=Sustainable Energy: Without the Hot Air |publisher=UIT Cambridge | url= http://www.withouthotair.com/ |year=2009 |isbn=978-0-9544529-3-3 }} (also an author and former DECC chief scientific advisor; died 2016)
Michael McElroy{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}
Richard Muller, Professor of Physics, UC Berkeley, co-founder, Berkeley Earth{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}
Ernest Moniz, former U.S. Secretary of Energy {{citation needed|date=January 2022}}
Peter H. Raven, President Emeritus, Missouri Botanical Garden. Winner of the National Medal of Science, 2001{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}
Carlo Rubbia, Nobel Laureate in Physics{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}
Grace Stanke, American pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss America 2023 and nuclear engineer and national advocate for nuclear power
Tom Wigley, Climate scientist at the University of Adelaide{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}

= Non-scientists =

Ansel Adams{{cite web |url=http://davidsheff.com/article/ansel-adams/ |title=A candid conversation with America's "photographer laureate" and environmentalist about art, natural beauty and the unnatural acts of Interior Secretary James Watt. |author=David Sheff |date=March 1983 |publisher=Playboy |access-date=22 October 2014|author-link=David Sheff }} (Photographer, former Sierra Club director; died 1984)
John Barrasso{{cite web |url=https://www.epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2017/3/bipartisan-group-of-senators-introduce-nuclear-energy-innovation-and-modernization-act |title=Bipartisan Group of Senators Introduce Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act |date=2 March 2017 |website=U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works |access-date=13 July 2017}} (U.S. Senator (R) from Wyoming)
Michael Bloomberg (Former Mayor of New York City, co-author with Carl Pope of "Climate of Hope"){{citation needed|date=January 2022}}}
Isabelle Boemeke, Brazilian fashion model supported by Patreon contributions and her earnings as a model and influencer, pro-nuclear electricity advocate
Cory Booker (U.S. Senator (D) from New Jersey)
Stewart Brand{{cite web|title=Nuclear power's time has come|url=http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/02/22/brand.nuclear.power.pro/|website=CNN|date=22 February 2010|access-date=15 October 2013}} (Writer, speaker, founder of the Whole Earth Catalog)
Carol Browner{{cite web|title=If You're Concerned About Climate Change, You Should Support Nuclear Power|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/realspin/2014/05/05/if-youre-concerned-about-climate-change-you-should-support-nuclear-power/|website=Forbes|author=Carol Browner|date=5 May 2014|access-date=2 June 2014}}{{cite web|title=To Carol Browner, Nuclear More Than Just Matters – It's Essential|url=http://thebreakthrough.org/index.php/programs/energy-and-climate/to-carol-browner-nuclear-more-than-just-matters-its-essential|website=Breakthrough Institute|date=27 May 2014|access-date=5 June 2014}} (Former EPA administrator and ECCP (White House Office of Energy and Climate Change Policy) director in the Obama administration, author of "Comments on Proposed Radiation Protection Standards for Yucca Mountain, Nevada," Leadership Council, Nuclear Matters)
Robert Bryce (Writer){{citation needed|date=January 2022}}}
Shelley Moore Capito (U.S. Senator (R) from West Virginia)
Jimmy Carter (Former President of the United States, peace ambassador){{citation needed|date=January 2022}}}
Mike Crapo (U.S. Senator (R) from Idaho){{citation needed|date=January 2022}}}
Gwyneth Cravens{{cite book|last=Cravens|first=Gwyneth|title=Power to Save the World|year=2007|publisher=First Vintage Books|location=New York|url=http://www.cravenspowertosavetheworld.com/index.php}} (Journalist, author of "Power to Save the World")
Leslie Dewan{{cite web |url=http://www.nationalgeographic.com/explorers/bios/2015/leslie-dewan/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150612084236/http://www.nationalgeographic.com/explorers/bios/2015/leslie-dewan |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 12, 2015 |title=2015 Emerging Explorers » Leslie Dewan, Nuclear Engineer |website=National Geographic Society |access-date=14 June 2015 |quote=At the most fundamental level I'm an environmentalist. I'm doing this because I think nuclear power is the best way of producing large amounts of carbon-free electricity. I think the world needs nuclear power, alongside solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal, if we want to have any hope of reducing fossil fuel emissions and preventing global climate change.}} (Nuclear engineer and entrepreneur)
Martin Ferguson{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}}
Deb Fischer (U.S. Senator (R) from Nebraska)
Bill Gates (Founder of Microsoft Corporation, philanthropist, investor){{citation needed|date=January 2022}}}
Chris Goodall{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/commentators/chris-goodall-the-green-movement-must-learn-to-love-nuclear-power-1629354.html|author=Chris Goodall|title=The green movement must learn to love nuclear power|website=The Independent|date=23 February 2009|access-date=15 October 2013}} (Author)
Malcolm Grimston (Author of "The Paralysis in Energy Decision Making," Honorary Research Fellow, Imperial College London){{citation needed|date=January 2022}}}
Steven F. Hayward (Senior Resident Scholar, Institute of Governmental Studies University of California, Berkeley)
Ben Heard{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-06-19/environmentalist-says-nuclear-needed-to-combat-climate-change/5535792 |title=Environmentalist argues in favour of nuclear power |author=Babs McHugh |date=20 Jun 2014 |website=ABC Online |access-date=17 April 2015}} (executive director, Bright New World)
Paul Howes{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}}
Vincent Ialenti{{cite journal | url=https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.abf2843 | doi=10.1126/science.abf2843 | title=Learning to think long-term Deep Time Reckoning: How Future Thinking Can Help Earth Now Vincent Ialenti MIT Press, 2020. 208 pp | journal=Science | date=27 November 2020 | volume=370 | issue=6520 | pages=1043 | last1=Hamblin | first1=Jacob Darwin | s2cid=227171422 }} (Cultural anthropologist)
Jim Inhofe (U.S. Senator (R) from Oklahoma)
John G. Kemeny{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}}
John Kerry (former U.S. Secretary of State, U.S. Senator (D) from Massachusetts){{cite web |url=http://www.wbur.org/bostonomix/2017/01/09/john-kerry-mit-climate-change |title=Speaking At MIT, Secretary Of State John Kerry Urges Action On Climate Change | date=9 Jan 2017 | website=wbur.org |access-date=14 May 2018}}
Ro Khanna (U.S. Representative (D) from CA-17)
Steve Kirsch (Silicon Valley entrepreneur, CEO Token){{citation needed|date=January 2022}}}
Bob Latta{{cite web |url=https://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/energy-environment/280292-nrc-reform-for-a-strong-safe-nuclear-power-industry/ |title=NRC Reform for a strong, safe nuclear power industry |author=Jerry McNerney and Robert E. Latta |date=17 May 2016 |website=thehill.com |access-date=13 July 2017}} (U.S. Representative (R) for Ohio's fifth congressional district)
John Lavine (Medill Dean Emeritus Northwestern University){{citation needed|date=January 2022}}}
Zion Lights (Author, activist, founder of Nuclear For Net Zero{{cite news |last1=Hume |first1=Holly |title='Protest' beach party uses inflatable bananas in support of nuclear energy |url=https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/beach-protest-for-sizewell-c-1-6844838 |access-date=18 September 2020 |work=East Anglian Daily Times |date=18 September 2020 |language=en}})
Bjørn Lomborg{{cite web |url=http://cosmosmagazine.com/earth-sciences/bj%C3%B8rn-lomborg-resilient-environmentalist |title=Bjørn Lomborg: The resilient environmentalist |author=Keith Kloor |date=21 Oct 2013 |website=Cosmos |access-date=3 February 2015 |author-link=Keith Kloor |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150203132744/https://cosmosmagazine.com/earth-sciences/bj%c3%b8rn-lomborg-resilient-environmentalist |archive-date=3 February 2015 |url-status=dead }} (Researcher, author)
Mark Lynas{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-24445371 |title=Nuclear power support from former sceptic Mark Lynas |date=8 October 2013 |website=BBC |access-date=15 October 2013}}{{YouTube|id=6pXiiQBknHM|title=Mark Lynas thinking the unthinkable on nuclear power|link=no}} (Journalist, activist, author The God Species, Six Degrees)
Joe Manchin (U.S. Senator (D) from West Virginia)
Haydon Manning{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}}
John McCain 2008 United States presidential debates
Steve McCormick (Former CEO, The Nature Conservancy)
Jerry McNerney{{cite web |url=https://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/energy-environment/280292-nrc-reform-for-a-strong-safe-nuclear-power-industry/ |title=NRC Reform for a strong, safe nuclear power industry |author=Jerry McNerney and Robert E. Lata |date=17 May 2016 |website=thehill.com |access-date=13 July 2017}} (U.S. Representative (D) for California's 9th congressional district)
Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}}
George Monbiot{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/mar/21/pro-nuclear-japan-fukushima |title=Why Fukushima made me stop worrying and love nuclear power |author=George Monbiot |date=21 March 2011 |website=theguardian.com |access-date=15 October 2013}} (Journalist)
Hugh Montefiore{{cite web |title=We need nuclear power to save the planet from looming catastrophe |author=Hugh Montefiore |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/hugh-montefiore-we-need-nuclear-power-to-save-the--planet-from-looming-catastrophe-544571.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130420222715/http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/hugh-montefiore-we-need-nuclear-power-to-save-the--planet-from-looming-catastrophe-544571.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 20, 2013 |website=The Independent |date=22 October 2004 |access-date=15 October 2013}} Note, an expanded version of the same essay was printed the next day: {{cite web|website=The Tablet|url=http://www.thetablet.co.uk/article/1963|title=Why the planet needs nuclear energy|author=Hugh Montefiore|date=23 October 2004|access-date=21 October 2013}} (Priest, former Friends of the Earth trustee; died 2005)
Patrick Moore{{cite news| author=Patrick Moore| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/14/AR2006041401209_pf.html|title=Going Nuclear| date=16 April 2006| newspaper=The Washington Post| access-date=15 October 2013}} (co-founder of Greenpeace, and former president of Greenpeace Canada)
Lauri Muranen{{cite web| author=Jonathan Miller| url=http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/2016/05/lund-debate-focuses-nuclear-power-climate-change|title=Lund debate focuses on nuclear power, climate change| date=12 May 2016| access-date=12 May 2016}} (executive director, World Energy Council Finland)
Lisa Murkowski{{cite web |url=https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-our-nation-must-lead-on-nuclear-energy |title=Press Release: Our Nation Must Lead on Nuclear Energy |author=Lisa Murkowski |date=17 May 2016 |website=murkowski.senate.gov |access-date=13 July 2017}} (U.S. Senator (R) for Alaska)
Ted Nordhaus{{cite web| url=http://www.energytribune.com/2929/breakthrough-ted-nordhaus-and-michael-shellenberger-of-the-breakthrough-institute-discuss-climate-mccarthyism-and-why-they-now-support-nuclear-power |title=Breakthrough! Ted Nordhaus and Michael Shellenberger of the Breakthrough Institute Discuss "Climate McCarthyism" And Why They Now Support Nuclear Power | date=20 November 2009| access-date=15 October 2013 |website=Energy Tribune}} (Author, chairman of the Breakthrough Institute)
Fred Pearce{{cite web|website=theguardian.com|url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/blog/2012/apr/10/war-nuclear-environmentalists-vicious|title=Vicious words mark the war between pro and anti-nuclear environmentalists|author=John Vidal|date=10 April 2012|access-date=20 October 2013}} (Journalist, author)
Steven Pinker (Harvard University, author of The Better Angels of Our Nature){{citation needed|date=January 2022}}}
Richard Rhodes{{cite news|last=Jogalekar|first=Ashutosh|title=Richard Rhodes on the Need for Nuclear Power|url=http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/the-curious-wavefunction/2013/07/23/richard-rhodes-on-the-need-for-nuclear-power/|newspaper=Scientific American|date=July 23, 2013}} (Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, author of "Nuclear Renewal" and The Making of the Atomic Bomb)
Jeffrey Sachs{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/may/03/nuclear-power-solution-climate-change |title=Nuclear power is only solution to climate change, says Jeffrey Sachs |author=Fiona Harvey |author-link=Fiona Harvey |date=3 May 2012 |website=The Guardian |access-date=17 February 2015}} (Economist, director of The Earth Institute)
Peter Schwartz (Author of "Art of the Long View"){{citation needed|date=January 2022}}}
Michael Shellenberger (Author, co-founder of the Breakthrough Institute, President of Environmental Progress)
Robert Stone{{cite magazine|magazine=Rolling Stone|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/videos/environmentalists-go-pro-nuclear-in-pandoras-promise-trailer-20130430|title=Environmentalists Go Pro-Nuclear in 'Pandora's Promise' Trailer|author=Kate Breimann|date=30 April 2013|access-date=20 October 2013}} (Director; his film Pandora's Promise{{IMDb title|qid=Q7130706|id=tt1992193|title=Pandora's Promise}}. Specifically credited are Brand, Cravens, Lynas, Rhodes, and Shellenberger. features pro-nuclear environmentalists)
Nobuo Tanaka (Chairman, Sasakawa Peace Foundation, former executive director, International Energy Agency)
Frank Thelen{{Cite web|url=https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/ist-unser-planet-noch-zu-retten-frank-thelen|title=Ist unser Planet noch zu retten?|last=Thelen|first=Frank|date=2019-09-25|website=LinkedIn|language=de|trans-title=Can we still save the planet?}} (Businessman, investor)
Stephen Tindale{{cite web|website=The Independent|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/green-living/nuclear-power-yes-please-1629327.html|title=Nuclear power? Yes please... |author=Steve Connor|date=23 February 2009|access-date=20 October 2013}}{{YouTube|id=HoGHICUegBo|title=Former Greenpeace/UK Executive Director Stephen Tindale on nuclear power and renewable energy|link=no}} (Chief Executive of the Alvin Weinberg Foundation and former executive director Greenpeace UK)
Sheldon Whitehouse (U.S. Senator (D) from Rhode Island)
Bryony Worthington{{cite web |title=Why thorium nuclear power shouldn't be written off |author=Bryony Worthington |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2011/jul/04/thorium-nuclear-power |website=The Guardian |date=4 July 2011 |access-date=15 October 2013}} (Environmental campaigner, UK House of Lords member)
Tim Yeo (Chair, New Nuclear Watch Europe, former chair Energy and Climate Change Parliamentary Select Committee){{citation needed|date=January 2022}}}
Jiang Zemin (Former General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party){{citation needed|date=January 2022}}}
Xi Jinping (Current General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party){{citation needed|date=January 2022}}}
Elon Musk (Billionaire entrepreneur){{cite web |title=Elon Musk: It's possible to make 'extremely safe' nuclear plants |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/07/22/elon-musk-its-possible-to-make-extremely-safe-nuclear-plants.html |website=CNBC |date=22 July 2021 |access-date=23 July 2021}}

;Open letter signatories

{{cquote|Climate and energy scientists in 2013: there is no credible path to climate stabilization that does not include a substantial role for nuclear power{{cite web|website=The Australian|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/higher-education/james-hansen-keen-on-next-generation-nuclear-power/story-e6frgcjx-1225838858482|title=James Hansen keen on next-generation nuclear power|author=Leigh Dayton|date=10 March 2010|access-date=20 October 2013}}{{YouTube|id=CZExWtXAZ7M|title=James Hansen on nuclear power|link=no}}{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/03/world/nuclear-energy-climate-change-scientists|website=CNN|title=Climate change warriors: It's time to go nuclear|author=Thom Patterson|date=3 November 2013|access-date=5 November 2013}}{{cite web |url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/03/world/nuclear-energy-climate-change-scientists-letter |author1=Ken Caldeira |author2=Kerry Emanuel |author3=James Hansen |author4=Tom Wigley|name-list-style=amp |title=Top climate change scientists' letter to policy influencers |date=3 November 2013 |website=CNN |access-date=12 January 2015}}}}

{{cquote|Conservation biologists in 2014: to replace the burning of fossil fuels, if we are to have any chance of mitigating severe climate change […we] need to accept a substantial role for advanced nuclear power systems with complete fuel recycling{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-06-07/aussie-scientists-dominate-global-energy-talks/2749944|title=Aussie scientists dominate global energy talks|website=ABC News (Australia)|date=7 June 2011|access-date=15 October 2013}}{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/nuclear-power-is-the-greenest-option-say-top-scientists-9955997.html |title=Nuclear power is the greenest option, say top scientists |author=Steve Connor |date=4 January 2015 |website=The Independent |access-date=12 January 2015}}{{cite web |url=http://bravenewclimate.com/2014/12/15/an-open-letter-to-environmentalists-on-nuclear-energy/ |title=An Open Letter to Environmentalists on Nuclear Energy |author1=Barry W. Brook |author2=Corey J. A. Bradshaw |name-list-style=amp|date=15 December 2014 |access-date=12 January 2015}}}}

The following is a list of people that signed the open letter:as of the most recent access date, Brook and Bradshaw's letter had an additional 75 signatories; only those with biographical Wikipedia articles are displayed here however.

Ken Caldeira
Kerry Emanuel
James Hansen
Tom Wigley
Barry Brook (co-author)
Corey J. A. Bradshaw (co-author)
Andrew Balmford
Daniel T. Blumstein
Scott Carroll
F. Stuart Chapin III
Richard Hobbs
Ove Hoegh-Guldberg{{cite web |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/opinion/lets-go-nuclear-for-the-reefs-sake/story-e6frgd0x-1226971281343 |title=Let's go nuclear, for the reef's sake |author1=Ove Hoegh-Guldberg |author2=Eric McFarland |name-list-style=amp|date=30 June 2014 |website=The Australian |access-date=11 November 2014}}
William F. Laurance
Thomas Lovejoy
Robert May (also a UK House of Lords member)
Hugh Possingham
Peter H. Raven
Richard Shine
Chris D. Thomas

Future prospects

The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor, located in France, is the world's largest and most advanced experimental tokamak nuclear fusion reactor project. A collaboration between the European Union (EU), India, Japan, China, Russia, South Korea and the United States, the project aims to make a transition from experimental studies of plasma physics to electricity-producing fusion power plants. However, the World Nuclear Association says that nuclear fusion "presents so far insurmountable scientific and engineering challenges".{{cite web |url= http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf66.htm |title= Nuclear Fusion Power |author= World Nuclear Association |year= 2005 |access-date= 2016-07-24 |archive-date= 2009-06-24 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090624123428/http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf66.htm |url-status= dead }} Construction of the ITER facility began in 2007, but the project has run into many delays and budget overruns. The facility is now not expected to begin operations until the year 2027 – 11 years after initially anticipated.{{cite journal |title=Triple-threat method sparks hope for fusion |author=W Wayt Gibbs |date=30 December 2013 |journal=Nature |volume=505 |issue=7481 |pages=9–10 |doi=10.1038/505009a |pmid=24380935 |doi-access=free |bibcode=2014Natur.505....9G }}

Another nuclear power program is the Energy Impact Center's OPEN100 project. OPEN100 was launched in 2020 and has published open-source blueprints for a nuclear power plant with a 100-megawatt pressurized water reactor.{{cite news | last=Proctor| first=Darrell| title =Tech Guru's Plan—Fight Climate Change with Nuclear Power| work=Power Magazine| date =February 25, 2020 | url =https://www.powermag.com/tech-gurus-plan-fight-climate-change-with-nuclear-power/| access-date =October 18, 2021}} The project aims to minimize the costs and duration of construction to increase nuclear power supply and potentially reverse the effects of climate change.{{cite news | last=Takahashi| first=Dean| title =Last Energy raises $3 million to fight climate change with nuclear energy| work=VentureBeat| date =February 25, 2020 | url =https://venturebeat.com/2020/02/25/last-energy-raises-3-million-to-fight-climate-change-with-nuclear-energy/| access-date =October 18, 2021}}

References

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20110905235003/http://alsos.wlu.edu/default.aspx Alsos Digital Library for Nuclear Issues — Annotated Bibliography on Nuclear Power]
[http://energyscience.org.au/ Briefing Papers from the Australian EnergyScience Coalition]
[http://www.british-energy.com/pagetemplate.php?pid=312 British Energy — Understanding Nuclear Energy / Nuclear Power] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070813225908/http://www.british-energy.com/pagetemplate.php?pid=312 |date=2007-08-13 }}

Category:Ecomodernism

Category:Environmental movements

Category:Lists of people by ideology

Category:Nuclear history

Category:Nuclear organizations

Category:People associated with nuclear power