…but it is said that those who dare, win

In slicing through the noise enveloping new pro-nuclear documentary, Pandora’s Promise, The Times environmental editor, Ben Webster observes the conflict which the issue of zero-carbon nuclear energy stirs within the Green lobby:

Senior figures in Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth support nuclear power to help cut carbon emissions but dare not speak out because they fear losing their jobs, according to environmentalists.

The green groups, founded 40 years ago partly to oppose nuclear power, are presenting a united front but have internal divisions on the issue, they said.

Stephen Tindale, a former executive director of Greenpeace UK, and Mark Lynas, an environmental activist, were speaking before last night’s London premiere of a documentary film on nuclear power and environmentalism.

Pandora’s Promise tells the stories of environmentalists who used to oppose nuclear power but have changed their minds because they think it will help prevent climate change by cutting dependence on fossil fuels.

Mr Lynas, who in the film visits the exclusion zone around the Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan, said people in the environment groups shared his belief that nuclear power was needed.

He added: “But they can’t say so because their jobs and mortgages would be immediately at risk. Issues like nuclear really are religious to the old-timer environmental movement.”

Mr Tindale said he had felt unable to raise doubts about Greenpeace’s anti-nuclear policy while working for it.

“When I began to question my opposition to nuclear, I knew it was time to leave Greenpeace because being anti-nuclear is central to its DNA. If I had questioned nuclear opposition I’d probably have been out of a job.”

Robert Stone, who directed Pandora’s Promise, said he had changed his own mind after being struck by “the irony that the single technology that the environmental movement is absolutely united in opposition to might turn out to be the solution to the world’s greatest environmental problem”.

He said that while making his film he talked to people in the largest green groups who shared his view. “There are serious internal discussions on this issue going on in environmental movements and internal divisions at a very high level. The leadership are out of touch with the grassroots, particularly young people [on the nuclear issue].”

A Greenpeace source said: “There are people in the organisation who would be much more pragmatic about nuclear. I do think there is to a certain extent a generational shift.

Andy Atkins, executive director of Friends of the Earth, said it had recently completed a review of its policy on nuclear power which was “fairly honest about the pros and cons”. He said the group decided to remain opposed to it largely due to the high cost and problems of disposing of radioactive waste.

He denied that there were supporters of nuclear power within FoE who were being silenced.

Pandora’s Promise premiers tonight at Curzon Soho with Brian Eno joining Robert Stone for the Q&A – some tickets still available: http://t.co/g2CqWOcsD4