What is the relationship between nuclear energy to the environment?

Question

what makes nuclear energy related to the earth's environment?

Answer 1

Its only effect on the environment since the early 80s has been a relatively small amount of waste heat left in cooling water discharged into nearby streams.  Compare that to the vast quantities of soots and CO2 dumped into the atmosphere by burning coal, gas and oil and you have to wonder where some environmentalists heads have been stuck all this time.

Answer 2

Nuclear energy is 'clean', unlike most energies currently being used. Properly contained, Nuclear energy has NO side-effects on the environment.

Coal, as an opposite, leaves nasty smog, Hydro-electric dams flood thousands of acres of land, killing habitats, and of course, natural gas, like all fossil fuels are bound to run out eventually.

Additionally, unlike wind and solar power, Nuclear Energy is not restricted to any time of the year, and can literally be built anywhere there is room for the plant, unlike the miles of open land required for wind, or the snow obscuring the solar power.

However, it should be pointed out that Nuclear Power is looked at with fear by the general public. If you want to know why google "Chyrnobil", and you'll likely find it.

Answer 3

Nuclear energy has, as it's main issue, what to do with the still highly radioactive wastes (plutonium 239).  The radioactive half-life of plutonium 239 is 24,000 years - so it will take that long for half of the radioactivity to diminish.  Is it reasonable to think that these wastes can be safely contained long enough to not pose a risk, especially if nuclear energy use increases?  I don't know.  In addition, there's the risks associated with mining for radiactive elements and the fact that with that much radioactive plutonium around, some social elements might intend to use it for nuclear weapons.    

So sure, nuclear energy produces less CO2 and atmospheric pollutants, but it certainly is not risk free.  Weighing the pluses and minuses may be sticky...