Climate and energy scientists Tom Wigley, Kerry Emanuel, Ken Caldeira, and James Hansen have released an open letter addressed to world leaders calling for support on the development of safer nuclear power systems to reverse climate change.
According to a CNN report, the four top environmental scientists believe that embracing nuclear power is the only way to reverse the threat of climate change, due to man's overuse of fossil fuels. This is in stark contrast to the belief held by traditional environmentalists who for 50 years have ignored and rejected clean-burning nuclear power, describing it as either too expensive or too dangerous. They further cited the disasters at Fukushima, Chernobyl and Three Mile Island.
The environmental scientists believe that time is running out. Without nuclear, consumption of global energy will overtake Earth's ability to reverse the carbon dioxide pollution buildup caused by burning oil, coal and other types of fossil fuels. Hansen added that there is an impending risk or rising sea levels and disintegrating polar ice sheets that will surely pose a threat to the coastal regions.
The open letter is among the scientists' strongest public statements that support nuclear power. It was a timely act as the news network is about to air the documentary Pandora’s Promise,a nuclear power debate that argues nuclear power as a relatively safe and a clean source of energy that can help reduce the serious threat of global warming, on Thursday.
By releasing the letter, the scientists are "putting their reputations on the line to do something that the ultra-greens regard as treason," said Stanford University Nobel-winning physicist Burton Richter.
Some parts of the globe manifest a burgeoning nuclear power while others depict a shrinking status. While Asia is embracing the idea, Japan had been firm in rejecting it as the country is still struggling on implementing safety measures on its Fukushima nuclear power plant.
