Arjun Makhijani

Nuclear energy is not a good solution to preventing global warming, argues Arjun Makhijani in the following viewpoint. To significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions would require the construction of thousands of nuclear plants over the next several decades—something he contends is not economically feasible. Nuclear energy plants run the risk of catastrophic accidents such as the 1986 Chernobyl disaster which released radioactive fallout throughout Europe. Nuclear facilities also produce waste which is difficult to store safely, and which could be used to make nuclear weapons. Makhijani is president of the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research, an organization that researches and distributes information on energy and environmental issues to the public.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. What was the most important lesson of Chernobyl, according...