Nuclear energy is sometimes described as the panacea we need to carry out a green energy transition, while others see it as a sinister and easily abusable power source that ought to belong in the past. Though it has traditionally been opposed by environmental activists, considerations of the role nuclear power can play in transitioning to a diverse net-zero energy mix has led to a shift in attitudes. Where wind- and solar energy take up vast land areas and produce energy intermittently, nuclear power is stable and extremely energy dense. Moreover, the development of newer, safer technologies have made reliance on nuclear seem like less of a risky road than it previously did.

Simultaneously, many remain critical of its potential to serve as a chief energy source for centuries to come. Concerns about the risk of damage associated with nuclear accidents, imperfect waste storage, and intentional sabotage of plants through war or terrorism remain a source of widespread worry.

Zion Lights is a science communicator, author and activist, and founder of the evidence-based climate activism group Emergency Reactor. She is a vocal advocate of nuclear energy as a green energy source we need to make use of in addressing the climate crisis. In this talk she will address the current narrative surrounding nuclear energy, why it is such a polarising issue, and the path forward.