The atmosphere in the room was tense. For weeks, ministers had debated a vital question: how should Britain be powered in the 21st Century? Eventually, they formed a plan.

Yesterday, British prime minister Boris Johnson launched a new energy strategy for the UK. 

"Nuclear is coming home," Johnson said. "In the country that was the first to split the atom, the first truly to harness its power to light our homes and drive our factories, we will once again lead the way."

Every year until 2030, a new nuclear reactor will be approved in the UK. By 2050, atomic energy will produce 25% of Britain's electricity, alongside offshore wind, solar and hydrogen power. 

Johnson hopes the strategyA general plan or set of plans intended to achieve something, especially over a long period. could solve Britain's energy problems. A rise in nuclear power could help wean the UK off fossil fuels. Moreover, it can reduce dependence on expensive imported energy. 

But many believe using radioactive material to generate electricity cannot be safe. 

Radiation exposure can cause humans to develop cancer, pass genetic mutations onto their children - and even die. In 1986, the world's worst fears were realised when a meltdown at the ChernobylThe disaster, in 1986, involved a meltdown at a nuclear plant in Ukraine. nuclear power station spread radioactive material across Europe. 

Today, safety standards for nuclear plants are rigorous, but unexpected events can still have devastating consequences. The 2011 Fukushima disaster was caused by a tsunami. Last month a missile strike caused a fire at Ukraine's ZaporizhzhiaA city in eastern Ukraine. plant. It raised fears of a new nuclear catastrophe.

Even when everything goes according to plan, nuclear reactors have a dangerous byproduct: toxic waste remains radioactive for thousands of years.

Proponents of nuclear energy say these fears are overblown. Only three nuclear accidents have caused significant alarm since the 1950s, and only one, Chernobyl, caused deaths. 

Meanwhile, up to 90% of nuclear byproducts can be recycled. And the waste that does remain is stored securely. In comparison, fossil fuels killed 8.7 million people in 2018. 

Nearly 70 years on from its invention, nuclear energy remains hotly debated. But one thing is not in doubt: as the world turns away from fossil fuels and Russian exports, finding safe alternatives is more important than ever before. 

Yes: The fear is not based on facts. Nuclear energy is far less dangerous than fossil fuels. In fact, one UN agency says nuclear plants are among "the safest facilities in the world".

No: The risk is small, but when nuclear reactors fail, they fail disastrously. It will be thousands of years before Chernobyl is completely safe again. The world should listen to this warning.

Or... Nuclear energy is a risk the world does not need to take. Instead, governments should be investing in energy that is both clean and renewable, from wind and solar farms to hydroelectric dams.