Protecting Our Environment with Nuclear Energy

The moral case for nuclear energy is stronger than ever. Climate change and today’s energy price shocks threaten decades of economic and societal gains made by developing countries. Meanwhile, extreme weather patterns highlight the ongoing challenges in addressing climate change. Each year, 8 million people die because of the poisonous air they breathe, and major cities in developing countries are choking on fumes so thick it’s difficult to see.

The challenge is clear and low-carbon nuclear power is part of the solution. We are no longer a bubble of scientists and experts who believe in nuclear. Opinion polls around the world are showing an increasing public acceptance of nuclear, both as a way to improve energy security and to meet climate goals. It’s getting harder to be an environmentalist who is against nuclear.?More and more people are recognizing nuclear energy as a practical and necessary solution to our energy and environmental challenges.

Good planning, engineering, stakeholder engagement and the political will to get it done show that there is an answer to the important question of nuclear waste. In Finland, Onkalo is built and expected to receive its final license this year. Sweden, France, and others are on their way too. These are game-changers that are happening now, showing that effective nuclear waste management is possible.

There is a lot of wind in the sails of nuclear. Governments worldwide have provided financial support and new mechanisms to overcome the costs and risks of building large nuclear plants. The EU Taxonomy designates nuclear as sustainable, making it eligible for favorable financing. Private investments are also increasing, especially in SMRs and fusion.

The steep rise in nuclear power plants and operators in the 1970s and 80s has given us decades of experience in construction, operation, regulation, safety, security, and safeguards. Today, more than 400 operational reactors are spread across 31 countries, with 57 reactors being built in 17 countries and the biggest expansion programme is happening in China, a country that connected its first reactor to the grid in 1991. ?

In some countries, the lives of nuclear power plants are being extended. Meanwhile, numerous countries without nuclear power, including in Africa, are either planning or thinking about adding it to the mix. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) supports them in their decision process and in building the foundational institutions nuclear energy requires.

The world is changing, and so must our solutions. Nuclear energy, with its evolving technologies and increasing public support, can lead us toward a sustainable future. On this World Environment Day and every day, let's embrace science and innovation to protect our planet for future generations.