Germany's final three nuclear power plants close their doors on Saturday, marking the end of the country's nuclear era that has spanned more than six decades.
There are those who want to end reliance on a technology they view as unsustainable, dangerous and a distraction from speeding up renewable energy.
In the 1970s, a strong anti-nuclear movement in Germany emerged. Disparate groups came together to protest new power plants, concerned about the risks posed by the technology and, for some, the link to nuclear weapons. The movement gave birth to the Green Party, which is now part of the governing coalition.
"It is a great achievement for millions of people who have been protesting nuclear in Germany and worldwide for decades," Paul-Marie Manière, a spokesperson for Greenpeace, told CNN.For critics of Germany's policy, however, it's irrational to turn off a low-carbon source of energy as the impacts of the climate crisis intensify.
More than 30% of Germany's energy comes from coal, the dirtiest of the fossil fuels -- and the government has made controversial decisions to turn to coal to help with energy security. While more coal was added in the months following Fukushima, Schreurs said, nuclear shutdowns have seen a big push on clean energy."That urgency and demand can be what it takes to push forward on the growth of renewables," she said.
Nuclear has also shown itself to have vulnerabilities to the climate crisis. France was forced to reduce nuclear power generation last year as the rivers used to cool reactors became too hot during Europe's blistering heatwave.Now Germany must work out what do with the deadly, high-level radioactive waste, which can remain dangerous for hundreds of thousands of years.
BGE, the Federal Company for Radioactive Waste Disposal, estimates a final site won't be chosen until between 2046 and 2064. After that, it will take decades more to build the repository, fill it with the waste and seal it.Plenty of other countries are treading paths similar to Germany's.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Germany ends nuclear era as last reactors power downGermany will switch off its last three nuclear reactors on Saturday, exiting atomic power even as it seeks to wean itself off fossil fuels and manage an energy crisis caused by the war in Ukraine.
Read more »
Germany allows Poland to export old fighter jets to UkraineGerman Defense Minister Boris Pistorius says that Berlin’s same-day approval shows that Germany could be relied upon.
Read more »
Pagasa: Most of PH may expect fair weather on Saturday, April 15MANILA, Philippines — Most parts of the country may anticipate fair weather conditions on Saturday as the low pressure area or LPA (formerly: Tropical Depression Amang) moved away from the
Read more »
PAGASA: Fair, humid weather throughout PH on SaturdayApart from isolated rains that may occur in the afternoon or evening, the state weather bureau said a generally fair and humid weather will prevail throughout the archipelago on Saturday, April 15. ManilaBulletin READ:
Read more »
Easterlies, localized thunderstorms to bring rains across countryThe easterlies will affect the eastern sections of Visayas and Mindanao, PAGASA said Saturday.
Read more »
Macron signs France pension reform into law despite protestsParis, France — French President Emmanuel Macron signed his controversial pension reform into law Saturday, defying three months of protests and pleas from unions not to implement the
Read more »