Harris Interactive carried out a study on nuclear energy for GIFEN and Bastille Magazine, the results of which have just been published as part of a special feature in the magazine entitled ‘Energie nucléaire, c'est le printemps’ (‘Nuclear energy, it's springtime’). The results show that a majority of French people are now in favour of nuclear energy.
75% of French people are in favour of nuclear energy
- Key figure: 75% of French people are in favour of using nuclear energy to produce electricity in France. This consensus is shared by all sections of the population, regardless of gender, age or socio-professional category. It is also observed across the different political currents, with the notable exception of the ecologists, 47% of whom are nonetheless in favour.
Other salient features of the survey include:
- Good image of nuclear power: 63% of French people have a good opinion of nuclear power, although this perception is lower than that of renewable energies.
- Development of low-carbon energies: 54% of French people favour the joint development of nuclear power and renewable energies, compared with 30% for renewable energies alone and 15% for nuclear power alone. This illustrates a growing awareness of climate issues and the need to develop all forms of low-carbon energy.
- The strategic role of nuclear power:
- 85% of French people believe that nuclear power contributes to France's energy independence;
- 84% of the French believe that nuclear power enables us to produce competitive electricity;
- 82% of the French believe that nuclear power creates jobs;
- 80% of the French believe that nuclear power helps to re-industrialise the country.
- Environmental impact: 62% of French people believe that nuclear power plays a positive role in the fight against climate change, a significant development in recent years.
- Other uses of nuclear power:
- 80% of the French believe that nuclear power can be used to produce heat in order to decarbonise the economy;
- 61% of the French believe that nuclear power can be used to produce hydrogen;
- 69% of the French believe in its applications in the medical field (medical imaging, treatments, etc.);
- 68% of the French see potential in the space sector.
These results show a growing acceptance of nuclear energy and recognition of its various advantages.
Find the detailed results of this survey at the following link.
