A new series by the Clingendael Spectator aims to portray the different views in the debate around the future of nuclear energy in the Netherlands. As this type of energy source is emerging as a leading option to decarbonize the future. Wall Street Journal even published an essay with the title “Only Nuclear Energy Can Save the Planet”. While the debate about new nuclear plants is often filled with economic and technical arguments, Professor McCauley and Dr. Onderco argue that politics is the biggest obstacle for the more wide-spread adoption of nuclear energy.
Political resistance at multiple levels
The political resistance against nuclear power plants takes place not only at a local level, but also at a national and international level. At a local level the resistance can be found with residents who object to living close by to a plant. At a national level, the main problems are related to the enormous costs of building nuclear power plants. This requires substantial public investment. Lastly, the debate crosses borders as there is also the problem of neighbouring countries who object to nuclear power plants close to their borders. This resistance is not only against the plant itself but also the nuclear waste it produces.
Regulatory framework and politics of security
Another political issue that arises is the lack of a regulatory framework. Countries missing a good regulatory framework often lack nuclear energy. Due to the lack of nuclear activities they often miss the incentive to bring their regulatory framework up to scratch. With every investment in nuclear energy comes also the issue of potential military use of the nuclear energy. There is an advanced legal framework in place to prohibit the misuse of nuclear energy. However, this framework only seems to benefit the suppliers of nuclear technology who also already possess nuclear weapons.
McCauley and Onderco therefore argue that Dutch government should not make the decision to invest in nuclear energy very lightly due to the political implications of this decision at multiple levels.
Read their full paper with all their arguments on this issue in the Clingendael Spectator.
- Professor
- Researcher
