Abstract
Against a backdrop of a strong global discourse on mitigating climate change and adopting a cohesive environmental policy, the debate on nuclear power is becoming increasingly important. As part of the fall-out of the oil crisis in the 1970s, nuclear energy emerged as a major game-changer in Europe, critically highlighting the need to achieve energy security. At present, the European Union (EU) is largely divided when it comes to employing nuclear energy as a long-term solution for cutting emissions. Swati Prabhu and Gulshan Sachdeva examine the ongoing nuclear energy debate in the EU and the consequent public reaction it faces in different member states. They also attempt to analyse the nuclear policy pursued by India, and the possibilities for cooperation with the country’s European partners.
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Notes
- 1.
As of now, the UK remains a full member of the EU and the rights and obligations of membership continue to fully apply in and to the UK.
- 2.
Refer to: http://ec.europa.eu/energy/en/topics/nuclear-energy, last accessed September 10, 2017.
- 3.
During the European Sixth Framework Programme Project CESSA Conference—Coordinating Energy Security in Supply Activities—Professor Gordon MacKerron mentioned that ‘nuclear power is special’ for Europe.
- 4.
The recent communication of the Commission released in May 2017 on a Nuclear Illustrative Programmed talks about the necessity of applying higher standards of safety, security, waste management and non-proliferation as well as diversifying nuclear fuel supplies. Refer to: https://ec.europa.eu/energy/sites/ener/files/documents/nuclear_illustrative_programme_pinc_-_may_2017_en.pdf.
- 5.
The quality of coal produced by India is average with high ash content and low sulphur content, leading to even higher greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, it is reported that more than a third of Indian carbon emissions are directly linked to coal use.
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Prabhu, S., Sachdeva, G. (2019). The Nuclear Energy Debate in the European Union. In: Sachdeva, G. (eds) Challenges in Europe. Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-1636-4_12
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