Why Climate Matters: Nuclear Energy

Why It Matters

Council on Foreign Relations

News

4.2 • 876 Ratings

🗓️ 20 February 2025

⏱️ 38 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

As the climate crisis intensifies, so do discussions about the utilization of nuclear energy. In the aftermath of nuclear meltdowns such as Chernobyl and Fukushima, climate skeptics say the environmental benefits do not outweigh the associated costs and risks. But others think that nuclear energy might be the best option for a greener future. Weighed against the world’s continued reliance on fossil fuels, how could nuclear be a safeguard for our energy supply? This episode was originally released on October 29, 2021. Featured Guests Leslie Dewan, CEO, RadiantNano Shirley Ann Jackson, President, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/the-climate-for-nuclear-energy

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hi everyone. Welcome to the final installment in our special mini-series, featuring some of our favorite
0:06.5	Why It Matters episodes centered around climate. Intensifying concern over climate change caused by
0:13.5	greenhouse gases has spurred new interest in nuclear energy. Skeptics say the environmental
0:20.0	benefits do not outweigh the costs and risks.
0:23.7	In many countries, nuclear power plants are decades old, expensive to maintain, and could be
0:29.6	at risk of causing an environmental disaster. But others think it might be the best option for a greener
0:36.3	future, and nearly 50 countries are expanding, building, or considering nuclear power programs, including India, Russia, and the United States.
0:45.9	In this episode, we discussed the viability and safety of nuclear power, how the use of nuclear power could be built into the U.S. national security strategy, why it could be a safeguard for our energy supply, and if it just may be a solution to lowering our global carbon footprint.
1:04.4	Enjoy.
1:08.3	Nuclear energy.
1:10.6	You're telling me that this sucker is nuclear?
1:15.6	No, no, no, no, no, this sucker's electrical.
1:17.6	But I need a nuclear reaction to generate the 1.21 gigawatts of electricity I need.
1:21.6	Watch out, radioactive man!
1:23.6	Breach in the reactor room.
1:24.6	We're getting radiation alarms from several lower floors.
1:26.6	It's clean and efficient and bare as safe until something goes horribly wrong.
1:30.3	It's the job of tomorrow.
1:32.3	Day!
1:33.3	Day!
1:38.3	A lot of our ideas about nuclear energy come from what we have seen on the big screen or on TV.
1:48.0	Mutants, supervillains, and time-traveling cars, sure, but also the haunting legacies of real-life disasters.
	...

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