Sustainable development is “a socio-economic development in which political, economic and social activities are integrated, while the environmental balance and stability of environmental processes are preserved in order to ensure the possibility of satisfying the basic needs of communities or citizens, both of contemporary and future generations.”
Source: “Nature Conservation Act”

In the face of global challenges posed by the need to act for climate protection, the growing demand for energy and the rising prices of oil and natural gas, nuclear power seems like the best choice for an energy source. Although not renewable, it is considered to be “clean”; nuclear power plants’ chimneys emit no grey smoke and their workers wear sterile uniforms. Truth be told, the problem of radioactive waste remains to be solved, yet the issue of developing nuclear power often appears in the context and as part of sustainable development. The security aspects are easily overlooked in the belief that new technologies have eliminated all risks entailed. According to the proponents of the cause, construction of a nuclear power plant will lead to modernization of the energy sector, contribute to technological development and create new workplaces.

In the past few months Polish authorities have undertaken decisions that are to lead the country to develop nuclear power. The public opinion is strongly divided whether or not to construct nuclear power plants, while the public discourse in the media lacks information about other alternative ways of developing the Polish energy sector.

However, the choice of the path for Poland to follow depends not only on the future of the power industry, but also on that of other economic branches connected with this sector. Consequences of the solutions chosen by us today will be borne by us and the generations to come. Although the rule of sustainable development is written into the Polish Constitution and clearly defines our responsibility towards future generations, it is to them we leave such unresolved problems as the issue of nuclear waste. They will have to accept the choice we make, even if they do not understand it, and bear the consequences entailed.

To what extent is nuclear power a solution ensuring sustainable development? Is nuclear power the only means of modernizing the country? Is Poland “doomed” to choose nuclear power or are there other solutions to our power problems? What are the Poles’ attitudes towards developing nuclear power?

Speakers:
Mirosław Lewiński, Director of the Nuclear Energy Department at the Polish Ministry of Economy
Radosław Gawlik, President of Eko-Unia Ecological Association
Jan Kozłowski, European Parliamentary Labour Party Member (Christian Democrats), former head of the Pomorskie voivodeship
Michael Madsen, Director of “Into Eternity”
Prof. Władyslaw Mielczarski, from the Institute of Electrical Power at the Łódź Institute of Technology and European Energy Institute

Moderator: Edwin Bendyk, head of the Panasonic Green Award, jury, journalist of the Polityka weekly and chairman of the Center for Future Studies at Collegium Civitas will moderate the debate.

Program and report of the debate as a pdf file.