Abstract
In the fight against climate change, nuclear energy as a sustainable energy source has gained interest. The European Union’s taxonomy is a significant initiative because it de- fines at a European level which economic activities can be considered sustainable, and because it gave citizens, businesses, environmental organizations and research institutes the opportunity to provide feedback on certain parts of the taxonomy during two public feedback periods. The aim of our research is to explore how respondents argue about the sustainability of nuclear energy. Our research confirms that those arguing for the inclusion of nuclear energy in the taxonomy stress the low-carbon nature of nuclear energy production and focus on the economic dimension of sustainability. Contrastingly, those arguing for the exclusion of nuclear energy highlight the unsolved problem of ra- dioactive waste disposal and the environmental dimension of sustainability. The social dimension of sustainability is neglected in the arguments justifying both positions.
| Translated title of the contribution | Nuclear response to the climate challenge?: The sustainability argument in the European Union taxonomy debate |
|---|---|
| Original language | Hungarian |
| Pages (from-to) | 56-74 |
| Number of pages | 19 |
| Journal | Információs Társadalom |
| Volume | 24 |
| Issue number | 2024/1 |
| Publication status | Published - 4 Jun 2024 |
Keywords
- nuclear energy
- EU taxonomy
- sustainability
- environmental protection