When the threat of a nuclear attack rises, experts warn that terrifying public information broadcasts from the 1970s may return.
The authors of a new paper discuss how lessons learned from the Covid-19 outbreak should be applied to future preparedness for possible radioactive fallout.
They note how the conflict in Ukraine has highlighted the threat, but also how the world’s shift away from fossil fuels and toward nuclear power has increased the risk of an accident.
The paper, titled ‘Rethinking our readiness for rapid response monitoring in the face of nuclear incidents,’ suggested that the government begin a public awareness campaign and that local and regional coordination be established.
It also recommends that current radiation levels be tracked in order to create a before and after picture in the case of a nuclear disaster.
In response to the paper, defence select committee chair Tobias Ellwood MP said: ‘Perhaps, with the war in Ukraine and Russian troops attacking nuclear power stations and Putin threatening nuclear attack, it is timely to review our resilience to nuclear accidents and attacks.’
In 1980 the government published the protect and survive pamphlet – adverts about how to build fallout shelters – and TV adverts warning about nuclear attacks.
Dr Bau, one of the co-authors of the paper, said: ‘The consequences as a result of events outlined in this white paper are unthinkable.
‘While we are all becoming acutely aware of burgeoning risk, the general population is not well briefed on what to do if the worst were to happen.
‘Only by taking action now on pre-emptive preparedness we can be resilient and continue to maintain the UK’s position as a global leader in nuclear safety as the world turns increasingly to it for decarbonisation beyond this current threat.’
The paper also mentions an international ‘car park’ for nuclear material should be organised by the UN so it can be safely stored.
In his foreword to the paper, professor Michael Clarke, a former director general of the Royal United Services Institute think tank, said: ‘Nuclear danger is back near the top of the international security agenda.
‘When the Cold War came to an end the possibility that nuclear weapons might be used somewhere, sometime, seemed to recede.
‘But we have all been rudely awakened to the greater dangers mankind is facing over the last decade, and particularly in our most recent turbulent years.’