Introduction, issue 83

Journal article

Major events with significant implications for energy have recently obtained on the world stage. The most recent is the series of nuclear accidents in Japan. One question is whether these accidents were caused by problems that can be easily remedied or they arise because of some fundamental flaws characteristic, perhaps, of nuclear. Will these accidents kill (or at least seriously affect) a cherished idea about fuel substitution – the demise of oil in favour of non-hydrocarbon energy sources. It is difficult to see how the trade-off between ‘dirty oil’ and ‘dangerous nuclear’ is assessed. But most of those afflicted by the disease known as petro-phobia have such an absolute view about the polluting impact of oil that the assessment cannot be made. What is conceived as absolute is not subject, by definition, to any trade-off as these involve relativities.

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Reviewed (other)
• Publisher: Oxford Institute for Energy Studies
• Journal: Oxford Energy Forum
• Volume: 83
• Pages: 1-2
• Publication date: 2011-01-01
• Edition: Publisher's version
• ISSN: 0959-7727
• Language: English
• Keywords: OIES