Nuclear Is Not the Solution : The Folly of Atomic Power in the Age of Climate Change

NUCLEAR POWER WILL SLOW OUR RESPONSE TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND INCREASE THE RISK OF WEAPONS PROLIFERATION AND CATASTROPHE THE CLIMATE CRISIS has propelled nuclear energy back into fashion. Its proponents argue we already have the technology of the future and that it only needs perfection and deployment. Nuclear Is Not the Solution demonstrates why this sort of thinking is not only naïve but dangerous. Even beyond the horrific implications of meltdown and the intractable problem of waste disposal, nuclear is not practicable on such a large scale. Any appraisal of future energy technology depends on two important parameters: cost and time. Nuclear fails on both counts. It is more costly than its renewable competitors wind and solar. And, importantly given the need for rapid transformation, it is slow. A plant takes a decade to come online. If you include permits and fundraising, this adds another decade. And we should not forget the deep roots it has in the defense... Masterful and concise. Well referenced and written by someone who is both a technical domain expert and political-economy and geopolitically savvy. M. V. Ramana’s powerful book destroys any illusion that nuclear is our answer to climage change, untangling technical arguments into simple and sensible language. Importantly, Nuclear Is Not the Solution also unmasks the powerful groups with vested interests in the maintenance of the status quo, currently working hard to greenwash a spectacularly dirty industry. Reviews: > **Ramana presents a devastatingly convincing case against the dangerous distractions of > nuclear energy. a major contribution destined to change countless minds.** — Naomi Klein, author of *On Fire: The (Burning) Case for a Green New Deal and Doppelganger: a Trip Into the Mirror World* > **You will not find a more comprehensive and powerful exposition that effectively demolishes all > the different arguments and claims made by those promoting nuclear energy. Ramana must be > applauded for doing a masterful job.** — Achin Vanaik, author of *The Rise of Hindu Authoritarianism* > **This book is smart, terrifying, and indispensable. In lucid prose, Ramana cuts through the hype surrounding gen iv, modular, and other reactor designs that are squandering billions of dollars. Atomic energy is costly, dirty, dangerous, and not the solution to anything other than building bombs and contaminating the earth for millions of years.** — Thomas A. Bass author of *Return to Fukushima* 10 more reviews on book website here: https://www.versobooks.com/en-gb/products/3013-nuclear-is-not-the-solution An urgent critique of nuclear power laid out in clear arguments with suggestions for decarbonizing our energy systems with renewable energy technologies The climate crisis has propelled nuclear energy back into fashion. Proponents of nuclear argue that we already have the technology of the green future and that it only needs perfection and deployment. Not a Solution demonstrates why this sort of thinking is not only nave but dangerous.Even beyond the horrific implications of meltdown and the intractable problem of waste disposal, nuclear is not feasible. Any appraisal of green energy technology depends on two important cost and time. Nuclear fails on both counts. It is more costly than its green competitors and thus a dollar spent on nuclear energy results in fewer megawatts than a dollar spent on wind or solar. And, importantly given the need for rapid transformation, by 2030, it is slow.A plant takes a decade to come online. If you include permits and fundraising, this adds another decade. And we should not forget the deep connection to the defense industry. Ramanas powerful book breaks any illusions in the hope of nuclear, untangling the technical elements into simple and sensible arguments. Importantly, Not a Solution also unmasks the powerful groups with deep interests in the maintenance of the status quo who have worked so hard to greenwash one of the dirtiest industries in the history of our species. NUCLEAR POWER WILL SLOW OUR RESPONSE TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND INCREASE THE RISK OF WEAPONS PROLIFERATION AND CATASTROPHETHE CLIMATE CRISIS has propelled nuclear energy back into fashion. Its proponents argue we already have the technology of the future and that it only needs perfection and deployment. Nuclear Is Not the Solution demonstrates why this sort of thinking is not only naïve but dangerous.Even beyond the horrific implications of meltdown and the intractable problem of waste disposal, nuclear is not practicable on such a large scale. Any appraisal of future energy technology depends on two important parameters: cost and time. Nuclear fails on both counts. It is more costly than its renewable competitors wind and solar. And, importantly given the need for rapid transformation, it is slow. A plant takes a decade to come online. If you include permits and fundraising, this adds another decade. And we should not forget the deep roots it has in the defense industry.M. V. Ramana's powerful book destroys any illusion that nuclear is our answer to climage change, untangling technical arguments into simple and sensible language. Importantly, Nuclear Is Not the Solution also unmasks the powerful groups with vested interests in the maintenance of the status quo, currently working hard to greenwash a spectacularly dirty industry.