The views and statements expressed in this forum do not necessarily reflect those of Shell or The Economist; nor is anyone authorised to represent the views of Shell or The Economist in this forum.

Nuclear power has come back into the reckoning as an essential element in combating climate change. Do we really have any option but to support a proven technology that can meet a big part of our electricity needs with minimal greenhouse gas emissions, when the principal alternative is burning more and more fossil fuels, in particular coal? Or is nuclear power too risky, on both safety and cost grounds, and will it swallow up resources that could be devoted to other clean energy systems?