Nuclear policy as an environmental solution (essay 300-350 words)

For centuries people have relied on fossil fuels. In the nineteenth century it was coal that was used in steam machines. In the twentieth century it was oil which propelled cars, power stations and heats households. Burning fossil fuels is the main environmental threat. Emissions of carbon dioxide and nitrogen dioxide causes greenhouse effect. Other gases like CFCs damage our planet’s ozone layer. The only way to prevent global warming is to cut down emission of greenhouse gases and nuclear energy could be a good alternative if it was safe.

Scientists have been working hard on nuclear fusion which is the cleanest form of energy available. Unfortunately present technology does not allow to keep high temperature plasma. So we have no choice but to stick to radioactive plutonium. Each nuclear power station has a set of reactors which produce a lot of radioactive waste. It must be kept in a secure place and is the biggest threat to the environment. Although the probability that the reactor damages is extremely low, the results of such an accident are catastrophic. Last time it happened in Ukraine in Chernobyl in 1986. Many people died of cancer. Even today a lot of new born children in the region are affected. Despite introduction of newest monitoring systems nuclear power stations are still one of the most serious threats to our planet. The danger is still increasing as the plants are getting older. If the core of the reactor is overheated the radioactivity leaks to the ground causing it to melt and form a cloud. This cloud may kill millions of people. We must put pressure on governments to improve safety standards in power stations. The best solution, however, is to shut them down.

In the future the only safe form of energy is solar energy and hydrogen. If hydrogen is burnt it produces water and carbon dioxide which are much safer than radioactive waste. When people run short of fossils our civilisation will have to rely on hydrogen and gas. In the future we might develop nuclear fusion which is unlimited source of clean energy in our planet.