nuclear-news

New nuclear cannot save us from climate change

Letter Dr Paul Dorfman, Chair of the Nuclear Consulting Group

Lord Foster of Thames Bank suggests that new nuclear will help save us from the impact
of climate change (“We must go nuclear to save our natural wonders”,
Oct 11).

Unfortunately, that’s not the case. British households already pay
what amounts to a nuclear tax to fund Hinkley Point C and Sizewell C, which
are among the world’s most expensive nuclear projects. Meanwhile,
renewables generate 52 per cent of UK electricity, more than four times the
contribution of nuclear power.

Globally, the contrast is starker. In 2025,
renewables supplied 85.6 per cent of new global generating capacity; in
that year solar capacity grew by 510GW and wind by 159GW, against just
1.5GW for nuclear.

Nuclear now adds in a year roughly what renewables add
every two days. With 20-year build times, delays and huge cost overruns,
new nuclear diverts resources from faster options. It is simply too slow
and costly to counteract our climate and energy crises.

Sunday Times 17th Oct 2026, https://www.thetimes.com/comment/letters-to-editor/article/sunday-times-letters-rwanda-scheme-small-boat-deterrent-62b2srrjx

October 23, 2026 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | climate change