Britons ‘accepting nuclear power’
The BBC have reported that Britons [are] ‘accepting nuclear power’ following a poll of 1500 people.
The catch is that nuclear power is only acceptable if it can be shown to help fight climate change compared to currently used technology.
And with a small majority of just 54%, it should not be thought that nuclear power is going to factor too highly in the UK’s future.
The poll also found that 78% would rather see renewable sources researched and exploited, and 76% would like to see lifestyle changes help reduce emissions and energy use, before the widespread introduction of nuclear power stations.
My personal view is that the public can (should?) help by making those lifestyle changes, having energy-efficient homes; and that industry should be making efforts to streamline their current processes while researching clean and green future power-generation technologies.
Fortunately, these are already happening, though so far, the effects can be difficult to see and appreciate.
Update 2006-01-19: A BBC article, Call for UK nuclear clean-up plan, includes the assertion that PM Tony Blair is “convinced that building more nuclear power stations is the only way to meet energy needs and stick to the targets on climate change”.