Does the UK need nuclear to reach net zero?

Science Weekly

The Guardian

Science

4.2 • 938 Ratings

🗓️ 17 June 2025

⏱️ 18 minutes

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Summary

The chancellor, Rachel Reeves, has promised £14bn of investment to build the Sizewell C nuclear power plant, kicking off what the energy secretary, Ed Miliband, says will be a ‘golden age for clean energy abundance’. But for critics, the technology’s high costs and lengthy construction times have always eclipsed the benefits of abundant low-carbon electricity. Ian Sample is joined by the Guardian energy correspondent Jillian Ambrose to find out why the UK government is backing nuclear and whether it will help Britain hit its target of net zero by 2050. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod

Transcript

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0:00.0	This is The Guardian.
0:10.0	Finlay Christie here.
0:11.6	If you're looking for a coastal adventure,
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0:39.8	island. This message was paid for by Tourism Island.
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1:11.8	diproprionate. Always read the leaflet. This message was paid for by Beccanase.
1:20.5	The UK is on the cusp of a nuclear revival.
1:25.2	I could announce today to you that this Labour government is investing in the biggest
1:30.0	rollout of nuclear power in a generation. Ministers listed the many reasons why they're backing
1:38.5	the first state-supported nuclear power plant since the 1980s. From the economy, because it is the right choice for jobs
1:46.3	and for the cost of living, because it is the right choice for economic growth, to energy security.
1:52.8	Having our own energy in this country that we control gives us security, gives us independent,
1:59.2	so Putin can't put his boot on our throat.
	...

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