On April 26, 1986, Reactor No. 4 exploded, releasing radioactive material across vast parts of Europe and reshaping how the world understands nuclear risk, governance, and responsibility. Cleanup and containment efforts are projected to continue until at least 2065.
The site now sits within a region affected by geopolitical instability, raising new safety concerns. As someone working at the intersection of sustainability, risk, and policy, I often return to Chernobyl as a defining case of how complex crises unfold and how they must be managed across disciplines.
On this anniversary, I would like to share my Chernobyl 40 Anniversary e-book for those new to the topic:
“The Long Shadow of Chernobyl: How One Disaster Redefined the World. Understanding the Myths, Realities, and Lasting Impact”.