Energy News  
Poll Reveals Half British Public Support Nuclear Future

by Staff Writers
London UK (SPX) Jan 19, 2006
The British public sees the need to tackle climate change: but only reluctantly accepts nuclear power as a part of the solution, overwhelmingly preferring renewables and energy efficiency.

As the Government next week begins its major review on the future of energy, an extensive survey published today (17th January) of the British public's attitudes towards future energy options shows that just over 50% may be prepared to accept new nuclear power stations if it would help to tackle climate change. But few actively prefer the nuclear option over alternatives such as renewable sources and greater energy efficiency.

Most people believe that promoting renewable energy sources (78%), and reducing energy use through lifestyle changes and energy efficiency (76%) are better ways of tackling climate change than nuclear power.

Part of the government's impending energy review will consider whether the UK needs to replace its ageing nuclear power stations as one contribution towards achieving its climate change objectives. Professor Nick Pidgeon, who led the survey research team, explained that "the government has already recognised the need to take public acceptability into account when exploring our future energy options.

However, almost nothing is known about how ordinary people are responding to the new debate about nuclear power and climate change. This new research helps us to understand public views on this critical question".

Carried out jointly by researchers from the Centre for Environmental Risk and the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research at the University of East Anglia, in conjunction with Ipsos MORI. The survey reveals:

There are high levels of concern about climate change among the British public.

While polls over the past four years have shown a gradual lessening of opposition to replacing nuclear power stations, the new results still show more opposition than support.

Higher proportions of people are prepared to accept nuclear power if they believe it will contribute to climate change mitigation. However, very few would actively prefer this as an energy source over renewables or energy efficiency, given the choice. The detailed survey findings, which will be discussed at a meeting this morning (17th January) at the Royal Society in London, include the following:

On Climate Change

62% of respondents indicated that every possible action should be taken to limit climate change, and a further 32% that some action should be taken. The public believes changes in behaviour to reduce energy consumption (69%), and expanding use of renewables (68%) and of energy efficient technologies (54%) are the best ways of tackling climate change.

34% of adults now think that Britain's existing nuclear power stations should be replaced, while the same proportion do not want them replaced when they reach the end of their lives. Only 9% want to see the number of nuclear stations increased, while 15% would close all existing stations today.

54% of people would be willing to accept the building of new nuclear power stations if it would help to tackle climate change, and 48% agreed that the nation needs nuclear power because renewables alone are not able to meet its electricity needs.

However, people also believed that promoting renewable energy sources (78%) and reduced energy use through lifestyle changes and energy efficiency (76%) are better ways of tackling climate change than nuclear power.

63% believed that Britain needs a mix of energy sources, including nuclear and renewables, to ensure a reliable supply of electricity.

While 62% said it doesn't matter what the public think of nuclear power as nuclear power stations will be built anyway.

Only 12% support regulation and taxation to reduce energy consumption.

Professor Nick Pidgeon added "The survey findings suggest that, given the numbers who are still opposed to renewal of nuclear power, there remains considerable potential for conflict around this issue.

Additionally, many of those who do accept new nuclear power for Britain do so only reluctantly, and only if renewables and other strategies are developed and used alongside. Ordinary people have a more sophisticated understanding of energy futures than many decision makers like to believe. This wider context is something which the government should take very seriously during its own review."

Community
Email This Article
Comment On This Article

Related Links
The Leverhulme Trust
Economic and Social Research Council
The Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research
Civil Nuclear Energy Science, Technology and News
Powering The World in the 21st Century at Energy-Daily.com



Memory Foam Mattress Review
Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News


Australia: China Must Sign Safeguards To Get Uranium

Sydney (AFP) Jan 13, 2006
Australia will tell China next week that it must agree to stringent safeguards if it wants uranium shipments to fuel its plans for massive nuclear power expansion, officials said Friday.







  • Lithium-Ion Batteries Could Replace Standard Batteries In Hybrid Vehicles
  • Iran, Nigeria Lead To Oil Spike
  • Couple To Drive Round The World With Only 50 Fill-Ups
  • China's Developing World Energy Strategy

  • Poll Reveals Half British Public Support Nuclear Future
  • U.S. Pushes For More Nuclear Power
  • Australia: China Must Sign Safeguards To Get Uranium
  • India Enters Into Nuclear Talks With Japan

  • What Is A Cloud
  • Getting To The TOPP Of Houston's Air Pollution
  • Scientists Seek Sprite Light Source

  • Deforestation Threatens Brazil's Pantanal Wetland
  • Nobel Laureate Blames East Africa Drought On Deforestation
  • Indonesia Faces More Disasters Unless Government Reforests
  • ESA Presents Space Solution To Montreal Forest Conference

  • Growing Crops To Cope With Climate Change
  • New Possibilities To Fight Pests With Biological Means
  • "Doomsday Vault" To House World's Seeds
  • Growing More Good Oil From The Sea

  • Eclectic Koizumi Tries Electric Sedan
  • GM Hires Russian Nuclear Scientists To Develop New Auto Technology
  • Japan Creates The World's Fastest Electric Sedan
  • Motorists To Pay 'Congestion' Charge Over Broader Swath Of London

  • US Air Force Rates F-22A Raptor "Mission Capable"
  • Wedgetail Aircraft Delivered To Boeing Australia
  • Northrop Grumman To Provide New Air Data Inertial Reference Units To Lufthansa
  • Air Force Slates F-117 And B-52 For Cuts F-22 Raptors

  • NASA plans to send new robot to Jupiter
  • Los Alamos Hopes To Lead New Era Of Nuclear Space Tranportion With Jovian Mission
  • Boeing Selects Leader for Nuclear Space Systems Program
  • Boeing-Led Team to Study Nuclear-Powered Space Systems

  • The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2006 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA PortalReports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additionalcopyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement