Nuclear Power Is Our Best Hope to Ditch Fossil Fuels | Isabelle Boemeke | TED

譯者: 麗玲 辛 審譯者: Zoe Walmsley

My life completely changed with one tweet.

我的生命因一則推文完全改變。

This was back in 2015

2015 年，

when Twitter was mostly a place we went to see what Kanye was mad about.

當時上推特主要是要追明星動態。

But then I saw it.

可是有天我看到一則推文，

A tweet by a scientist I deeply admire,

是我很欽佩的科學家

Dr. Carolyn Porco.

卡羅琳·波爾科博士寫的。

Wait, I thought nuclear energy was bad.

咦？我以為核能是壞東西，

Yet here is a scientist and a TED speaker

但這位科學家兼 TED 講者

making it sound good.

卻給核能滿好的評價。

It sent me on a journey,

因此我開始探索這個問題。

I spent years reading papers, talking to scientists,

我花了好幾年讀研究報告、 和科學家對話，

and I always asked them the same question:

而我總是問他們同樣的問題：

What do you think about nuclear power?

「請問你對核能的看法？」

Their responses were shockingly similar.

他們的回答出乎意料地相似。

It's good.

核能是好的。

We need it.

我們需要核能。

People hate it.

人們討厭核能。

In the last seven years,

過去這七年，

I've seen climate change go from being a scary thing of the future

我看到氣候變遷每況愈下，

從未來式的恐怖事件變成現在進行式。

to being a scary thing of the present.

My wake-up call came after seeing the fires ravage the world in California,

喚醒我的是肆虐世界各地的大火──

加州、澳洲、

in Australia

and in my home country of Brazil.

還有我的家鄉，巴西。

I decided I wanted to turn my growing sense of anger and despair

我決定將日益高漲的憤怒與絕望

into something helpful and productive.

用在有建設性的事上。

So I had an unusual idea:

我有個不尋常的想法：

I should be a nuclear energy influencer.

我可以為核能發聲。

I wanted to make nuclear energy cool.

我想讓核能變得很酷。

Inspired by internet culture,

受到網路文化的啟發，

I created a digital version of me and called her Isodope.

我創作了一個數位版本的我， 取名為「同位素」。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

She's sassy,

她很時髦，

a little weird,

有點怪，

but she always tells the truth.

但她總是說實話。

And here, you can see her in action.

我們可以看一下她工作的樣子。

(Video) Hey, guys, a lot of you asked about my make-up routine.

（影片）嗨，大家好！　 很多人問我化粧步驟，

The most important thing is to wash your face really well,

最重要的是把你的臉洗乾淨，

讓每個毛孔都跟家中用電一樣乾淨，

because we want those pores as clean as we want our electricity.

得到潔淨能源最好的方法 是這個品牌的清潔劑──

And the best way to get that is to use this cleanser called --

「幫幫忙，別再關核電廠了」

stop shutting down nuclear plants, for Christ's sake.

因為核能是無碳、無排放、 無污染的能源。

It's carbon-free, emission-free, pollution-free electricity.

然後是這款來自植物的精華液──

Then I use this plant-based serum called --

「關閉核電廠，改換石油。」

when a nuclear plant is shut down, it is replaced by fossil fuels.

那會很糟糕。

That's bad.

（掌聲）

(Applause and cheers)

（歡呼聲）

Isodope is like a dealer of good memes.

同位素有點像是「優良迷因經銷商」。

When I say meme, you probably think of something like this.

聽到迷因，你可能聯想到這個：

[德國對煤吹口哨，核能翻白眼]

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

What I mean by it is a fixed belief or idea, good or bad,

我其實只是想說： 迷因是固定思維，不論好壞，

that spreads from person to person and defines how we see the world.

這思維在人與人間流傳， 決定我們如何看這個世界。

For example,

例如：

people should have equal rights.

「人應擁有平等權利」、

Birds aren't real.

「鳥類並非真實存在」。

It's a thing.

真的有這個說法。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

Nuclear energy is bad.

「核能發電不好」。

When it comes to nuclear power,

當講到核能，

the world has been sold a bad meme.

世人被灌輸一個負面的迷因，

An outdated one.

一個過時的迷因。

Let's go back in time.

讓我們回顧歷史，

It all started with the anti-nuclear movement of the 1970s.

1970 年代，反核運動開始。

The movement was driven in large part

這個風潮很大部份是

by an understandable fear of nuclear weapons.

來自對核子武器的合理恐懼。

And I get it.

這我理解。

It must have been terrifying to grow up in the '50s and '60s

在 50、60 年代成長的人們

fearing a nuclear attack.

一定很害怕核武攻擊。

But here's the problem.

但是問題是，

Their logic was: nuclear bombs are bad,

他們的邏輯是：核彈是可怕的，

therefore nuclear energy is bad.

因此核能也是可怕的。

Which, if you think about it, is like saying: the electric chair is bad,

仔細一想，這好比說，電椅很可怕，

therefore electricity is bad.

所以電也很可怕。

The case against nuclear power was never based on science,

反對核能的論點從未有任何科學基礎，

but the anti-nuclear meme was very catchy.

反核的迷因卻好聽易記。

In the decades that followed,

在接下來的幾十年中，

aspiring engineers didn't choose nuclear engineering.

有抱負的工程師們 不會選擇從事核能工程，

Politicians got points for closing nuclear plants,

政客關閉核能廠，獲取支持，

even though it always led to higher carbon emissions.

即使下場是更高的碳排。

The meme even snuck into people's homes,

這個迷因甚至能在每星期日的晚上八點

every Sunday night at eight, without them knowing.

神出鬼沒地潛入人們家中。

(Laughter)

（笑聲） [辛普森卡通]

I wish Homer had worked at a coal plant.

我多希望荷馬是在火力發電廠工作。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

In the last 10 years,

過去十年中，

we have spent trillions of dollars on renewables,

我們花了好幾兆開發可再生能源，

yet we only get eight percent of our electricity from wind and solar.

可是風力與太陽能 全部只佔總體電力的８％。

Now, don't get me wrong, I love renewables,

別誤會，我喜歡可再生能源。

but to me, it's clear that we need more.

但就我而言，很明顯的 我們需要更多能源，

We need a source of energy that's clean

我們需要乾淨的能源，

and works 24/7 to complement them.

能夠不間斷地生產。

And it's been sitting right in front of us this whole time,

但是，這樣的能源一直在我們眼前，

but we have ignored it

我們卻視而不見，

because we're too blinded by the meme.

因為反核迷因使我們盲目。

Now most people today aren't exactly anti-nuclear

現今多數人並非真的反核，

as much as they’re “meh.”

而是漠不關心。

Not passionately against it, but they've heard of Chernobyl.

雖說不是積極反核， 他們卻都聽過車諾比，

They've seen images of leaking green barrels.

及照片中漏出放射線物質的綠色桶子，

They have a vague feeling it's bad.

他們隱約感覺核能不是好東西。

And remember, that's where I used to be.

我以前就是這樣，

Until I saw this chart.

直到發現這張圖。

[投影片標題：最安全乾淨的能源]

The only thing you need to take away from this chart

這張圖上唯一需要記得的是：

is that nuclear power has the lowest life cycle emissions

所有的能源種類中，核能的 生命週期碳排量是最低的，

of all energy sources,

producing only three tons of CO2 per gigawatt hour of electricity.

每一吉瓦的發電量 只排放三噸的二氧化碳。

And I could keep talking like this all day long, but let's be real,

我可以繼續談一整天數據， 但讓我們面對現實，

this is not changing minds on social media.

這改變不了社群媒體上的想法。

So I do things a little bit differently.

所以我做了點不一樣的事：

(Video) The reality is that nuclear is one of the safest forms of energy.

（影片）其實核能是 最安全的能源形式之一。

問題是核事故讓人印象深刻，

The problem is that nuclear accidents are dramatic.

而石油帶來的破壞卻無聊到讓我睡著。

While fossil fuel damage is boring.

I'm literally falling asleep talking about it.

近期研究指出每年有 870 萬人的死因與燃油相關，

Recent studies say that 8.7 million people die from burning them every year.

This would be like having 5.8 Chernobyls a day.

相當於每天發生 5.8 次車諾比核災。

I'm just a humble influencer,

我只是個卑微的網紅，

but I think this means fossil fuels are worse.

在我看來，石油比核能更糟。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

(Applause)

（掌聲）

Most people have a feeling airplanes are more dangerous than cars

大部份人覺得飛機比汽車危險，

because when a plane crashes, it makes the headlines.

因為每當飛機墜毀就成為頭條新聞，

It's memorable.

人們會記得很清楚。

Of course, we know the opposite is true.

當然我們知道事實是相反的，

Planes are significantly safer than cars,

飛機比汽車安全得多，

just like nuclear power is significantly safer than fossil fuels.

就像核能比石化燃料安全得多。

In this next video, Isodope will address the idea

下個影片中，同位素要探討的是：

that we don't know what to do with nuclear waste.

「我們無法處理核廢料」。

(Video) I'm sure you don't know what to do with it,

我確定你不知道怎麼處理，

but there are people who spent decades studying this issue.

許多人花了幾十年研究這個課題，

They're called scientists.

他們叫做科學家。 [梗圖：聽專家的話]

Finland is almost done building

芬蘭已經快要蓋好

the world's first nuclear waste repository.

世界第一座核廢料儲藏庫。

They're storing it deep underground in geologically stable locations.

他們要將核廢料儲藏在 既深且地質穩定的地底下。

Sweden is about to do the same.

瑞典也要開始這麼做。

I know you're worried about what may happen 19,000 years from now, but ...

我猜你在擔心一萬九千年後的問題……

(Loud buzzing)

（警報聲）

Again, just a humble influencer,

當然，我只是個小網紅，

but we might not make it that far if we keep burning fossil fuels.

只是，如果我們繼續燒石油， 可能撐不到那時吧？

(Applause)

（掌聲）

By the way, most think nuclear energy waste looks like this.

順道一提，很多人以為 核廢料長得像這樣。

It actually looks like this.

事實上是像這樣……

Fully contained in concrete casks that are so good at blocking radiation

包裝在這種水泥桶裏， 完全阻隔放射線，

I might do a photo shoot there.

我還能在那拍照。

Now, a more modern objection to nuclear power

現在有個較新的反核原因……

is that it's too slow.

說核能太慢了，

It takes too long to build.

因為核能廠要蓋很久。

Well, I'm sure Isodope has something to say about that.

關於這點，我相信同位素有話要說。

(Video) (Isodope claps)

（影片）（同位素拍手）

Finally, an argument that isn't older than me.

總算有個論點比我年輕，

Unfortunately, it still sucks.

不幸的是，這個論點還是很爛。

In the '70s, France built 45 reactors in 15 years.

70 年代，法國在 15 年內 蓋了 45 個反應爐。

More recently, Japan, China and Korea have built reactors in six years or less.

近年，日本、中國和南韓 只花六年就蓋好反應爐，

So this means BTS is blow-drying their hair with clean energy.

這代表 BTS 的吹風機 使用的是乾淨的能源。

Even if it takes 10 years to build one,

即使建造工程得花上十年，

nuclear power plants can make clean and reliable electricity

核電廠可持續生產乾淨、可靠的電力

for at least 80 years.

至少 80 年。

This --

這點……

(Applause)

（掌聲）

This idea that it takes too long to build plants is confusing,

核電工程耗時太長的說法令人困惑，

considering we're going to need energy forever.

因為我們對能源的需求永不間斷。

You know, the best time to build nuclear plants

是的，蓋廠的最佳時機是十年前，

was 10 years ago.

The next best time is today.

再來就是現在。

Now we’ve finally arrived at the most fashionable objection at the moment:

最後，我們來談談 現今最時髦的反核論：

nuclear power is too expensive.

核能太貴。

I'm going to take that one.

這個就交給本尊我來好了。

A little weird to say something is too expensive

嫌棄價格高昂是不是有怪？

to save the future of our species,

如果目的是拯救人類的未來？

but I get it, cost matters.

我可以理解，成本很重要。

Here's the thing.

問題是，

We know how to make clean energy cheaper.

我們知道如何降低潔淨能源的成本。

It's not rocket science.

無須用到什麼高深科技，

You build the same thing over and over and over.

同樣的東西不斷重複生產， 成本自然降低。

Solar, 10 years ago, was also considered "too expensive,"

十年前太陽能也被認為「太貴」，

but we decided it was cool and invested in it.

後來大家覺得太陽能很酷，開始投資，

Like magic, the costs have dropped by 90 percent.

就像變魔術一樣， 太陽能成本下降了 90%。

One way to make nuclear cheaper is with small modular reactors like these.

降低核能成本的方法之一是 這種小型模組化反應爐。

China just finished building their own version.

中國剛蓋完他們自己的模組。

Poland will use a similar technology

波蘭也會使用類似的科技，

to convert their aging coal plants into nuclear plants.

將舊的火力發電廠改造為核電廠。

他們使用相同的建築， 一樣的傳輸線，

They'll use the same building, the same transmission lines,

even retrain the same workers.

甚至重新訓練原本的員工。

But now making clean energy

只是改產潔淨能源，

instead of buying dirty fuels from dictators.

而非向獨裁者購買骯髒的燃料。

這讓我起了一個瘋狂的念頭：

Which leads me to a crazy idea.

What if instead of viewing nuclear power as destructive,

與其只看核能的毀滅性，

我們何不將它視為促進 能源獨立、和平的力量？

we view it as a force for energy independence

and even peace.

What if this technology offers our best hope for the future?

萬一核能科技正是 人類未來最大的希望呢？

A future where wars aren't funded by our addiction to fossil fuels.

屆時，沒有人能靠賣石油支持戰爭，

A future where energy is clean.

在這個未來，能源是潔淨的。

A future where electricity finally makes its way

在這個未來，終於有足夠的電力

to the 700 million people on Earth

為地球上的七億人口所用，

其中很多人現在還無電可用。

who still don't have access to it.

The idea that nuclear power is bad is costing us that future.

認為核能不好的想法 正在扼殺那個未來。

And it's time to let go of it.

現在正是將之摒棄的時候。

I'm not asking you to build a reactor.

我不求你去蓋反應爐，

I'm not asking you to rewrite "The Simpsons."

也不求你去改寫「辛普森家庭」。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

I'm not even asking you to sign a petition on Change.org.

我甚至不要你去 Change.org 簽署請願書，

All I'm asking you is to please, join me in spreading the meme.

我只想請求你幫我分享這個迷因。

Nuclear energy is cool.

核能是好的。

Thank you.

謝謝你。

(Cheers and applause)

（歡呼聲）

（掌聲）