UK Green party drops longstanding opposition to nuclear power

The Green party of England and Wales has ended its blanket opposition to nuclear fission, voting at its conference to assess nuclear projects alongside other low-carbon options. The change removes its previous commitment to phase out nuclear power. Wind and rooftop solar remain the party’s preferred sources of electricity, but elected representatives can now support or reject individual nuclear proposals on their merits. Green MP Carla Denyer said the shift does not amount to backing new reactors. She argued that keeping existing plants open may make sense because their construction accounts for much of their carbon footprint, while new projects should be scrutinised for cost, construction speed and environmental effects.

The policy change reflects growing concern that tackling the climate crisis may require considering every available source of low-carbon electricity, including nuclear power’s potential contribution to reliable baseload supply. Supporters say renewables are cheaper and quicker to build, but may need firm power sources alongside storage. The party’s earlier opposition was connected to its founding opposition to nuclear weapons, and senior Greens have previously called nuclear power outdated, slow and expensive, arguing that investment would be better spent on renewables and home insulation. A nuclear-policy adviser condemned the reversal as irrational, contending that renewables combined with storage can deliver faster, more affordable climate action. The new position leaves such disagreements unresolved: it allows nuanced judgments about proposals such as extending Sizewell B’s life without requiring the party to endorse nuclear power as a whole.