Abstract
The future role of nuclear power was evaluated and the implications for environmental protection considered. Interdisciplinary research was undertaken exploring; climate change, sustainable development, nuclear expansion and decline, nuclear skills education and training, research and development and nuclear/radiological security. The analytical concepts of change and response were used to review the condition of nuclear power in terms of time and space and to evaluate the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats feeing the industry. It was found that published models of the future of nuclear power when extrapolated and compared showed a broad array of outcomes. These differences demonstrate the uncertainties in forecasting future nuclear scenarios. The Energy Footprint model was used to evaluate the environmental impact of fossil fuels and it revealed regional inequalities of global bio-productive land consumption. The expansion of nuclear power in regions of excessive fossil fuel use would assist in the amelioration of those inequalities. It was argued that nuclear power provides a method of energy production that offers security, reliability and minimal environmental impact compared to fossil fuels. Climate change is the most significant environmental threat facing societies. Reviewed International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) research showed that the climate change hypothesis is valid and mitigating action is necessary. For nuclear power to undergo rapid expansion will require increases in nuclear skills, education and training in tandem with governments' financial support for nuclear research and development but the prospect of nuclear or radiological terrorism is problematic and if realised would impair future prospects. Sustainable development is a central tenet of environmental protection and must permeate local, national and international responses. The implications for environmental protection are that there are risks and uncertainties with nuclear expansion but the threat of climate change is of a higher magnitude necessitating an urgent international response that includes the rapid expansion of nuclear power.