Fukushima and Beyond: Nuclear Power in a Low-Carbon World

The catalyst for this study was the Fukushima-Daiichi major nuclear accident of 11 March 2011. In this event, a severe earthquake and15 metre tsunami caused serious damage and equipment failures at Japan’s Fukushima 1 Nuclear Power Plant which were judged by the International Atomic Energy Agency to be equally as serious as the Soviet Chernobyl nuclear disaster of 1986. Against a background of nuclear hesitancy and reassessment, the prospect of including or excluding nuclear power in a low-carbon twenty-first century world is now increasingly critical. It is in this emerging scenario and context that this book presents a full suite of historical, contemporary and projected data. Its use of complementary and comparative country-based case studies provides ample opportunity for developing strongly illustrative analysis of policy effectiveness in diverse polities and markets. In this way, it combines clear, comprehensive and rigorously science-based evidence, analysis and interpretation of data, all leading to conclusions and policy recommendations. Furthermore, it builds an understanding of the complexities and many challenges posed by the nuclear power option.

Table of Contents:
Contents: Preface. Part I The Road to Fukushima: Introduction: the history and challenges of nuclear energy; Nuclear power in the energy policy equation; The socio-political significance of nuclear power. Part II Turning Point: Fukushima as Guide and Warning: Nuclear `disaster’ as opportunity; Comparative studies of the `Fukushima factor’; The evolution and promise of new nuclear technologies. Part III Nuclear Power and Energy Policy Choice: The economic dimensions of nuclear power; The politics of nuclear energy; Public opinion formation in an era of mass communication convergence. Part IV Conclusions: Review, Decision, Consequence: Can nuclear power meet its full potential in the twenty-first century?; Choice and consequences: getting `greenhouse’ right and wrong; Conclusions: where to from here? Index.

About the Author :
Christopher Hubbard teaches International Relations and Security Studies at Curtin University, Australia. He has researched and written on nuclear affairs for over fifteen years, covering both nuclear energy and weapons proliferation policy issues. His book Power Plays: Enriched Uranium and Homeland Security was published in 2010. His new book Fukushima and Beyond: Nuclear Power in a Low-Carbon World builds on his profile as a researcher covering a broad spectrum of issues and controversies within the nuclear policy field from inter-disciplinary perspectives.

Review :
'This book covers a lot of ground, and many readers may jump around to the chapters most relevant to their interests. But for those involved in research or policymaking related to nuclear power and energy systems, or debates around air pollution and anthropogenic climate change more broadly, this book will serve as a valuable background on the often complex political, social, and technical issues that surround nuclear power in our post-Fukushima world.' Science and Public Policy