Although policy-makers may be convinced that nuclear power is the inevitable solution to current energy and environmental stresses, they still face incipient societal influences which threaten to defeat any near-term nuclear strategy. They are aware that the views of the public must be adequately reflected in any attempt to deal with the issues of energy and nuclear power; recognising that an analysis of societal attitudes to nuclear power generation is essential in order to develop an effective strategy to obtain public support.
The paper establishes the reasons which promote the nuclear renaissance in Asia and Africa, suggesting that the elimination of poverty by improving living standards is the main socio-economic driver for increased electricity demand in the developing world. It has been suggested that policymakers in these areas have been decisive in implementing changes to energy policy which are encouraging a shift from coal toward other energy sources consistent with current climate change and human health guidelines. Finally, the absence of economically feasible alternatives with high base-load generating capacity has forced leading Asian and African nations to pursue nuclear power in the near-term; but it is also evident that the developed world seeks a long-term energy supply mix that includes renewable energy options. |
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