The Nuclear Power Debate Essay -- essays research papers fc

The thermonuclear Power DebateIn 1953, nuclear energy was introduced into America as a cheap andefficient energy source, favoured in place of increasingly scarce fossil fuelswhich caused air pollution. Its initial use was welcomed by the general public,as it was hoped to lower the price of electricity, and utilise nuclear power forits potential as a resource, not a weapon. However, as people became aware ofthe long terminal dangers involved in storing nuclear waste, its use was criticised.Two accidents, at Three Mile Island and Chernobyl, demonstrated to the worldthe enormous risks involved in producing nuclear power.Nuclear power provides 17% of the worlds electricity but coal is themain source, making up 39%. However, fossil fuels such as coal, require greaterquantities to become the equivalent amount of electricity produced from Uranium.The use of nuclear power opposed to burning fossil fuels has reduced carbondioxide emissions by 2 billion tonnes per year, minimising the int ernational warmingeffect on the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is responsible for half of man madegases contributing to the Greenhouse Effect, and has sparked action from the UNIntergovernment Panel on Climate Change. Their consensus is a concern for theenvironment in the next century if fossil fuels continue to be used, even atpresent global levels. The Panel claims that for carbon dioxide to bestabilised to safe levels, a 50-80% reduction in all emissions would be ...