Sustainability and Turkey's Nuclear Energy Policy

Abstract

Implementing sustainable energy policies for global economic and social development has turned out to be one the priorities of the 21st century. In order to generate those types of policies, it is pre-requisite for policy-makers to have a comprehensive approach comprising economic, social and environmental dimensions. The issue of energy is located at the conjunction point of these dimensions. In this context, this paper will survey debates on nuclear energy's sustainability with special reference to Turkey's nuclear program. It will argue that Turkish electricity generation from nuclear will only be preferable in the case that social and environmental risks are minimized, more importantly, social consensus is achieved.