The Green Energy Dilemma: A qualitative content analysis of the greening of nuclear energy in the European Parliament

Abstract

This thesis studies whether the perception of nuclear energy has become greener in the European Parliament after the Fukushima accident in 2011, and who in the European Parliament argues that nuclear energy is green. The literature suggests that there is a crossroad between climate, energy, and energy politics in the European Parliament. This thesis draws on framing theory and European Parliament cleavage theory. It is based on a qualitative content analysis of debates in the European Parliament between 2011-2022. This thesis finds that the perception of nuclear energy has become greener in the European parliament. It also finds that the political right is more likely to argue that nuclear energy is green than the political left. The thesis thus finds that there is a crossing between climate, energy and climate policy in the area of nuclear energy in the European Parliament. It also suggests that the political left and right have different understandings of the meaning of “green energy”.