Learn from Chernobyl as the world turns to nuclear energy again

The irony is striking. Four decades after Chernobyl, nuclear power – long viewed with suspicion – is being recast as a pragmatic solution to an energy crisis. Advances in technology have helped shift perceptions. Third- and fourth-generation reactors are designed with greater safety margins than those of the Soviet-era plants. Proponents argue that nuclear energy offers a cost-effective, low-carbon alternative to fossil fuels, especially for nations unable to replicate China’s vast investments in solar and wind. Still, caution is warranted. Fukushima remains a sobering reminder of the risks, with Japan still grappling with the disposal of contaminated water. The line…