The FuTure oF nuclear Fuel cycle - MIT Energy Initiative

considerations discussed above. We shall, however, keep the value of ‘security’ separate in
this analysis so as to be able to distinguish between unintentional and intentional harm; the
latter also relates to extremely relevant proliferation considerations such as the use and dispersal
of nuclear technology for destructive purposes. We define ‘security’ as the protecting
of people from the intentional harmful effects of ionizing radiation resulting from sabotage
or proliferation.
So far we have presented three values for sustaining the environment and humankind’s
safety and security. In other words, the right side of Figure D.1 represents the sustaining of
the life of human and non-human animals as well as the status of nature. The other dimensions
of sustainability link up with the sustaining of human welfare; some economists 11
state that “a development is sustainable if total welfare does not decline along the path”
and that “achieving sustainable development necessarily entails creating and maintaining
wealth”. We argue that sustaining welfare as a minimum requirement relates to the availability
of energy resources which is why we distinguish between the three values of: 1) resource
durability, 2) economic viability and 3) technological applicability. These three values are presented
as moral values since they gain relevance in relation to each other and in aggregate
they contribute to human welfare in terms of sustaining the resources.
Resource durability has to do with the availability of natural resources for the future. Brian
Barry 12 presents the theory of intergenerational justice as the appropriate consumption of
non-renewable natural resources across time. In relation to non-renewable resources “[L]
ater generations should be left no worse off […] than they would have been without depletion”.
Barry proposes compensatory action or recompense for depleted natural resources.
. Edward Page 13 suggests that the most obvious example of such compensation lies in
technological improvement such as in heightened energy efficiency. Following this line of
reasoning, we argue that technological progress could also lead to energy efficiency or to
the deployment of new natural resources for energy production. We therefore present here
technological applicability as one of the interpretations of the sustainability, defined as the
scientific feasibility of a certain technology in combination with its industrial availability.
Particularly industrial availability depends very much upon economic viability and competitiveness
with respect to the alternatives.
Table D.1 Values to Be Considered
value
Environmental friendliness
Public safety
Security
Resource durability
Economic viability
Technological applicability
explanation
Preserving the status of nature
leaving it no worse than we found it
Protecting people from the accidental and unintentional harmful effects of ionizing
radiation
Protecting people from the intentional harmful effects of ionizing radiation arising from
sabotage or proliferation
The availability of natural resources for the future or the providing of an equivalent
alternative for the same function
embarking on a new technology at a certain stage and ensuring its continuation over the
course of time
The scientific feasibility of a certain technology as well as its industrial availability
216 MIT STudy on The FuTure oF nuclear Fuel cycle