Marcus Peabody 18/6/09 08:48 Page 21
How do we satisfy our need for energy and sustain our environment?
from the harmful carbon emissions released during their combustion eliminate much of the threat. The cost of nuclear power is a factor that
and partly to source energy from secure sources that are guaranteed might reduce its suitability in LEDCs. Finally, there is the problem of
for the foreseeable future. Many forms of renewable energy must be decommissioning old reactors. New reactors would be built with this
ruled out, some because of the damaging side effects, usually to the process in mind, making the process far easier. Despite all of the
environs of the facility that is producing the electricity (as already negative factors, I think nuclear power is the only source of energy that
mentioned, the Three Gorges Dam is producing electricity for much of could feasibly replace the burning of fossil fuels as the primary source
China, but is destroying some of the ecology in its vicinity). Others must of energy in most countries.
be excluded because they are unsuitable for use in many locations:
wind turbines will not function in the wind shadow of a mountain To complete our process of ensuring the sustainable future of our
range, and solar panels will work only sporadically at high latitudes, energy, we must realise that we make up only a small proportion of
where the region will be in continual darkness for the winter months. the energy-using world. China and India are the two fastest growing
The only viable solution to the problem at present is to switch energy consumers, and any changes for the better that we make will
dependence to nuclear power. Nuclear fuel is abundant and suitable soon be insignificant if we do not pass on our knowledge of
for extensive use in almost all circumstances. The vast quantity of sustainability to these countries. It is our responsibility to ensure that
energy released from the bonds of fissile atoms can be harnessed to the drive for a safe environmental future is a global cause. The Kyoto
heat water and drive generator turbines. This process produces no agreement has gone some way to ensuring this, and UN resolutions
carbon dioxide. If scientific expertise were shared, a new generation of will continue to encourage careful use of the resources we have
power plants could be built around the world. Once clean energy is in available to us.
abundance, its benefits can be shifted back to make the entire process
even more environmentally friendly: the mining and enriching of In the end it may not be possible to create a solution that fully satisfies
uranium can be carried out by electric machinery, rendering the fossil our criteria. Therefore, we must choose the best compromise, the
fuel vehicles currently used unnecessary. Of course, nuclear power has solution that goes the furthest towards fulfilling all of our requirements
its own very high-profile problems. Worry about the safe disposal of and needs. It must also be acknowledged that this is a complex
nuclear waste and the potential for the sorts of disaster that occurred problem, with no single method for its resolution. However, if we
at Chernobyl in Russia and Three Mile Island in the US have formed reduce our consumption of energy and ensure that this energy is
most of the dislike and fear of producing electricity by nuclear fission. coming from a sustainable and clean source, and then encourage
While these threats would always be a serious, if unlikely, problem, others to follow our lead, we will experience the benefits of
new technology applied to the construction of new reactors would sustainable, secure energy use. ■
2009 SCHOOLS ENERGY AWARDS
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