Germany to be nuclear free.

This week it was reported that Germany plans to shut down all its nuclear production facilities by 2022. I have not seen any coverage of this story by North American news outlets, and that's a real shame because I think it's really important.

This pledge is the first of its kind made by a major industrial power, and it means that Germany will have to look for other energy sources to fill the 22% of energy the country currently gets through nuclear means. According to Al Jazeera it is, "the government's aim to move towards complete reliance on renewable energy" and I applaud Germany - or at least Angela Merkel's administration - for these efforts. I am in no way the most steadfast environmentalist, however I do feel that not enough attention is given by governments as to how we can seriously change our current energy consumption methods so to make our lifestyles on this planet more sustainable and environmentally friendly. News that a major power like Germany is taking the lead in such endeavours brings me hope that other nations may potentially follow suit.

While I am not an expert on nuclear power, it as an energy source has always been in that proverbial 'grey-area' as to if it is safe or really viable. Nuclear power is by far the cleanest - in terms of direct environmental damage - source of energy employed en masse today. It is also potentially very dangerous should it escape our control and containment - as demonstrated by the damage done to Japan's Fukushima nuclear plant this past March. The production, material, and waste of nuclear power can be very hazardous to humans and the environment and although many nations do their best to ensure that nuclear energy is as safe as it can be, anything that is made by man risks fallibility and these risks can arguably outweigh the benefits had by nuclear power. Not to mention the potentiality for states to use their nuclear energy resources for nefarious purposes - like the development of nuclear weapons.

The Germans seem to be developing their capacity for wind-power as a replacement for their nuclear power plants. While wind power is a great renewable source, there are some limitations as it is costly, somewhat cumbersome, and not entirely reliable as a sufficient energy source - or at least not yet as compared to our current energy sources. Again, the very fact that Germany has made a pledge to rely exclusively on renewable energy in the future means that the country will 'put its best foot forward' in the research and development of different energy sources and how to best utilize these sources. The very fact that these first steps are being made by a major industrial power should be celebrated.