A majority of Danes are now in favour of nuclear power being used by world leaders to help reduce CO2 emissions according to the latest Gallup poll from Berlingske Tidende.

The poll shows 54 percent either fully in favour of, or positively inclined towards nuclear power compared to 2007 figures in which only some 25 percent were in favour of importing nuclear power from foreign stations.

“Concerns about the climate have become so predominant that they have overtaken opposition to nuclear power,” says Environment Sociology Senior Researcher Lars Kjerulf Petersen.

Several of Denmark’s neighbours – including Sweden, Germany, Finland, Britain, Poland and the Baltic nations already use nuclear power. Some are in the process of planning new nuclear power stations.

“Our neighbours produce electricity at half of what coal-fired stations can manage in Denmark. Denmark should ally itself with Sweden and Germany to build a (nuclear power) station. Politicians have refused to discuss the issue, but now that attitudes seem to have changed, they too should open up the issue,” says Reel Energi Oplysning Chairman Bertel Lohmann Andersen.

The Danish government’s own Climate Commission has kept the nuclear door ajar and the Danish People’s Party – which is the Lib-Con minority government’s safety net in Parliament – says it is now willing to resume the debate. The Young Conservatives have gone a step further and said they want nuclear power introduced in Denmark as soon as possible.