I hear and understand this perspective. For me, the overwhelming focus on carbon emissions misses the point that the planet and our relationship to it is sick. We have to consider the overall health of the planet and future generations when we make our decisions.
I’m by no means advocating for increasing the utilization of coal, oil, and gas, but just wanting to challenge my own feelings around nuclear energy.
Some how I feel like the fact that nuclear is also reliant on extraction gets lost in the focus on decarbonization.
My objectionsn to nuclear are also similarly moral. I just have such a huge issue with an energy source that creates a waste that will be around for generations.
Uranium mining has also created so many environmental disasters and is a risk to human health on that end.
That being said, I also understand that batteries and solar require rare earth minerals which causes more mining and human rights violations.
I also have such an issue with just looking at carbon footprinting.
Why is there a ban on recycling if that much is reusable? I thought it was an issue with reactor design?
Has anywhere actually solved the issue of waste handling?
I think nuclear also benefits a centralized grid structure more than community-based energy production and use.
I like this take. Isn’t solar punk itself a “counter-take” to the overwhelming distopian future visions? I’ve always said, we need to clearly describe the future we hope for so people know what we are working towards.
Isn’t the main beneficiary of centralized power generation industry and not the average citizen?