‘We don’t have the time to wait for nuclear power – we need to act now’
How long can we wait to avoid the catastrophic consequences of climate change?
We’re already seeing wild-fires in Syria, France, Algeria, Tunisia, Italy and the Greek islands.
Do we have enough to build a nuclear power station?
One MetroTalk reader says time really is of the essence.
What do you think?Let us know in the comments.
'The largest nuclear reactors take more than a decade to build.'
Mark Dawes (MetroTalk, Tues) suggests nuclear energy as an alternative to the renewables promoted by Just Stop Oil.
In the long run, he may be correct – nuclear power stations can produce a vast amount of electricity without contributing to climate change once they are built.
And I think nuclear will play a substantial role in our energy production over the next 50 years or so, notwithstanding unanswered questions on radioactive waste disposal.
But the big problem is time. The largest nuclear reactors take more than a decade to build.
Even if we decided tomorrow to commission enough nuclear power stations to replace the entire production of our fossil fuel power stations and we worked to the most ambitious timetables, we wouldn’t see a watt of power from those reactors until the early 2030s.
Realistically, the UK needs to reach actual net zero before the start of that decade, in order to avoid uncontrollable climate collapse.
Only renewables such as solar or tidal energy can be utilised quickly enough to fill the gap.
And they can do that, if we build enough and build efficiently. The renewables would be a darn sight cheaper, too.
Rob Slater, Norfolk
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‘Nuclear power cannot compete against safer, cleaner and cheaper renewables’
I want to remind people how the nuclear industry in the UK (and elsewhere) is rotting – it’s too expensive, too dirty, too dangerous and takes too long to deploy.
Even in Sizewell, Suffolk, where two reactors exist, the proposal to build a third will cause devastation to the local area of natural beauty, with masses of carbon emissions created in the process.
Nuclear power cannot compete against safer, cleaner and cheaper renewables.
I can see there is a case for keeping current, active nuclear reactors (not many left) but not for building more, which, in any event, seems to require input from other nations such as France and China! Martin Allen, South-East London
Won’t pay a £12.50 ULEZ charge? ‘Is that really what we call ‘close family?’
Michael Valentine (MetroTalk, Wed) says ULEZ is an ‘attack on older people’ because families with non-compliant cars living outside of London will be deterred from visiting their elderly relatives by the £12.50 charge.
Is that really what we would call ‘close family’? I pay £50 to see mine as I don’t drive and that’s the train fare for a 90-minute journey.
Michael mentions the ‘infirm’ but a weekly visit wouldn’t be enough if someone could not look after themselves, in which case families should be looking at support nearer them at a care home or in their own home.
Maybe as an elderly person, Michael could also spare a thought for his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
They have to live with our choices longer than we will live with ULEZ. Joe, London
‘ULEZ has worked for London’s air quality’
The summer of 2003 was considered a heatwave in Europe. Since then, the same temperatures have been replicated and surpassed regularly.
Just one example of why humankind needs to act, but act inclusively.
ULEZ and green parking tariffs etc have worked wonders for London’s air quality.
But they do penalise those who can afford only cheaper older cars.
The government needs to invest heavily and quickly in an electric vehicle infrastructure that will work for all.
And secondly, it must make basic electric vehicles genuinely affordable to all.
And then why not heavily tax crazily oversized hybrid and electric luxury SUV and 4x4s instead of rewarding them? Dave, Worthing
People criticise Labour and the Tories’ priorities towards the climate emergency but neither are radical enough.
First-past-the-post voting leaves us with two parties – neither are good enough. We need proportional representation. Adam, Manchester
‘Eco-anarchists’? Is it any wonder we’re in such a state?
Mike (MetroTalk, Wed) asks whether the Greek fires were started by ‘far-left eco anarchists to create “climate change” headlines’.
Hahahahahahahahahahahaha – yep, that’s it – the fires in Syria, France, Algeria, Tunisia, Italy and the Greek islands bringing the Med to a halt were all started by one group of very committed far-left activists.
With people like Mike in the world, is it any wonder we have ruined this planet?Steve, Kent
Why feel sorry for holidaymakers caught in the Mediterranean fires?
They are the ones contributing to global warming with their flights. Hellie Mute, Edinburgh
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