After Fukushima: nuclear power and societal choice

Abstract

The main objective of article is to evaluate nuclear power in relation to alternative energy sources. A central claim is that the accident in Fukushima does not change the challenges facing the global system for electricity production. Given the need to minimize climate change and that nuclear power provides electricity with lower carbon emissions than fossil fuels, it is impossible to replace both nuclear power and fossil fuel plants in a few years. These plants provide a substantial part of our total generating capacity and cannot be easily substituted. However, if we made significant but non-radical reductions of our electricity consumption, the process of replacing both nuclear power and fossil fuels with renewable sources becomes easier. Reduction can be motivated by an egalitarian theory of justice which claims that it is wrong to maintain a lifestyle that threatens present humans and transfers risks unto future generations. Finally, it is concluded that our total electricity consumption is as important as its production when we plan for our society’s energy future.