Nuclear perceptions from radioactive blue to sustainable green: The EU taxonomy as reflection of a divided public

Egres, Dorottya and Sarlós, Gábor (2024) Nuclear perceptions from radioactive blue to sustainable green: The EU taxonomy as reflection of a divided public. JOURNAL OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, 24 (1). No. e2901. ISSN 1472-3891

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Abstract

Following the Fukushima disaster, several European countries revisited their policies and decided to phase out nuclear energy production. More recently, however, the EU taxonomy proposed a classification system of environmentally sustainable economic activities and consequently reopened the debate regarding nuclear energy. This study analyses public comments about the inclusion or exclusion of nuclear energy as a response to climate change, in the conceptual frameworks of ecological modernization, sustainability and technological neutrality. The study highlights the challenge of shaping energy policies amid dynamic circumstances and diverse viewpoints. Proponents of nuclear energy emphasised its low-carbon emissions and climate change mitigation potential, while opponents focused on issues of radioactive waste and environmental risks. The study reveals that sustainability emerges as a potential reconciling framework to match arguments to influence the EU's decision-making, while it reflects the political primacy of this process. Finally, this research recommends improving feedback visibility and enhancing clear communication, and suggests further research directions to understand future EU nuclear energy policies.

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