Can a ‘Green’ be pro-nuclear and pro-GM?

“Yes – and all Greens should be”, is the essential proposition of veteran environmentalist Stewart Brand and author/campaigner Mark Lynas whose provocative views feature in a film running tonight on Channel 4 at 9pm. “What the Green Movement Got Wrong” will be followed by a live studio debate chaired by yours truly. Yes, that’s right, subtitle : “Krishnan juggles another hot potato”. You’ll be able to join the debate on the Channel 4 website where a liveblog will be running, and if you’re on twitter it would be great if you used #c4green on your comments.

The two main protagonists argue in the film that the advantages to nuclear power of it being a low/zero carbon technology now outweigh the disadvantages, that the risk from nuclear accidents such as Chernobyl have been overstated and that greens should accept nuclear power as part of our energy mix. They say the growth of coal fired power stations, rather than nuclear ones, which pump out very high levels of carbon has made the problem of climate change worse. They also argue that their previous opposition as green activists to genetically modified foods doesn’t make sense anymore, that the the technology is safe and would help feed the world.

As you may have already seen in some parts of the media the documentary has already caused some consternation among the main green campaign groups, and both Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth will be in the studio debate to face Brand and Lynas with their arguments. The Guardian’s George Monbiot is also set to be there, whom I expect will have some strong criticism despite recently writing about how nuclear power was starting to seem less threatening. So if you’re wondering why I’m not on the news tonight, it’s because I’m swotting for the debate. I hope you’ll join me.