The anniversary thus marks an obvious time to reflect on nuclear. The nuclear choice is not black and white. It’s not a simple “yes” or “no” decision. Rather, it’s a matter of “yes but.” What the world should do is stick with nuclear as part of its CO2-light mix of energy generation, but move away from the conventional water-cooled, uranium fueled reactors that comprise nearly all of the 435 reactors that the World Nuclear Association says are operating on the planet today.
Film is one of the most effective means to reach people on complex environmental issues, so after moving to Washington, D.C., she applied that knowledge to her green streak and established the Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital (EFF), which since that time has premiered almost 700 films, including world premieres of important titles like A Sea Change (2009), Carbon Nation (2010), and Planeat (2011).
The viability of modern civilization depends on two important dimensions: 1) the continuous availability and deployment of essential resources and 2) the long-term productivity and habitability of our environment. Acquiring and deploying the necessary resources tends to be a short-term goal. We may have stockpiles of ready food, fuel and other nondurable goods, but they are not typically meant to last for years.
A year after the meltdown of the Fukushima reactor, Ukraine’s nuclear-safety experts are busy consulting their Japanese colleagues on how to deal with the long-term fallout of the world’s second-worst nuclear accident.
In the summer sun, black asphalt roofs can reach temperatures of 170 degrees Fahrenheit, causing energy bills to skyrocket and making city nights 5-7 degrees warmer than surrounding non-urban areas.
To combat these effects, the city launched the NYC CoolRoofs program in 2010 to convert the asphalt-topped, heat-absorptive black roofs to reflective white.