We are in crisis mode with a prolonged war in Europe, an energy crisis and a climate crisis. If we hope to succeed in addressing these difficult and life-threatening issues, we need to critically reassess obsoleted and anachronistic antinuclear policies and prejudices and base long-term and irreversible energy decisions on facts. Polls show that increasing numbers of Germans support using nuclear power to produce clean energy production, reduce energy insecurity and succeed in achieving global decarbonization goals.[1]  The United States, the UK, France, Canada, and even Japan are pursuing pathways back to nuclear.[2] Germany is committed to decarbonization but needs to recognize that closing nuclear power is not helping and is actually hurting these efforts. To be a leader on the global climate stage, the Green Party especially but the Bundestag and all elected politicians must wake up to today's political, economic, technical and climate reality—that allowing safe, reliable nuclear energy to partner with wind and solar to firm power grids is the most efficient and cost-effective way to achieve difficult climate and energy goals—especially eliminating continued dependence upon coal and gas and their carbon emissions. We demand that we improve Energiewende by reversing its outdated antinuclear policy and allow all carbon-free energy technologies—including nuclear—to be used to help power a 100% carbon-free energy economy as soon as possible to avoid energy insecurity, price volatility and decades more delay with growing fossil fuel CO2 emissions. This request should be granted because we owe our children the best chance we can give them to a better future and swafe nuclear energy can help provide that.

[1]   GMF: “Nuclear Is Germany’s Best Path Out of the Energy Crisis, Dec. 7, 2022, by Kristine Berzina nd Sophie Arts,  https://www.gmfus.org/news/nuclear-germanys-best-path-out-energy-crisis. This article references an August 2022 study which shows “some 41 percent of Germans support extending the plants’ operations, while a further 41 percent support long-term use of the plants.” (See “ARD-DeutschlandTREND”poll at: https://www.infratest-dimap.de/fileadmin/user_upload/DT_2208_Bericht.pdf.)

World Nuclear News, in Aug. 2022, reported “Wide public support for keeping German reactors online, says polls” (https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Wide-public-support-for-keeping-German-reactors-on). They state: ““In another poll, conducted by the online survey institute Civey on behalf of Der Spiegel, 78% of respondents backed the continued operation of the last three German reactors until the summer of 2023. Even among the supporters of the Greens, there was a narrow majority for this.”  

Weekly data: Shift in Germany’s perception of nuclear energy.  Shows a graphic labeled “Attitudes towards nuclear energy in Germany are changing.”  This table shows that only 15% of all Germans now prefer to “Switch off nuclear power.” This means that 85% no longer agree that switching off nuclear power makes sense.  If you average the percentages of each party that want to “Switch Off Nuclear Power,” on 13% support that, leaving 87% choosing a different option. This is a big change. (Source Energy Monitor: “Weekly data: Shift in Germany’s perception of nuclear energy” https://www.energymonitor.ai/policy/weekly-data-shift-in-germanys-perception-of-nuclear-energy/)

[2]  United States: Progressive, pro-climate policies in the U.S., as revealed by President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act, now support nuclear energy and recognize its importance to meeting four goals: Energy Security, Low-Carbon Power, Reliable Power Grids and Economic Opportunity & Jobs. See: "Biden-Harris Administration Announces Major Investment to Preserve America's Clean Nuclear Energy Infrastructure," November 21, 2022. Also see: The Inflation Reduction Act — How Does It Impact the Nuclear Energy Industry?
United Kingdom: BBC, Energy strategy: UK plans eight new nuclear reactors to boost production, April 7, 2022.
France: World Nuclear News, "France outlines plans to speed new nuclear," November 4, 2022.
Canada: CBC: 4 Provinces push ahead with plan to build small nuclear reactors to supply power, March 28, 2022. Also see: GE: Energize This: Canada Could Become a Global Hub for New Nuclear Technology, August 16, 2021, by Tomas Kellner.
Japan: NPR (Associated Press), “After the Fukushima disaster, Japan swore to phase out nuclear power. But not anymore.” Dec. 22, 2022. And see: Power Magazine, “Nuclear Power Is Finally Poised to Ramp Up Again in Japan, Dec. 1, 2022, by Aaron Larson. And see: The Japan Times, “Japanese panel approves return to nuclear power as disaster memories fade,” Dec. 22, 2022, by Isabel Reynolds and Takashi Umekawa.