The Nuclear-Climate Nexus

摘要

The fact that nuclear power emits fewer greenhouse gases(GHG), such as carbon, than nearly any other electric powergeneration source appears to be lost on most of the world’spublic. However, the data in this regard is pretty irrefutable.Based on a recent WNA review of various independent studies,nuclear power’s lifecycle GHG emissions are on par withthe other two lowest sources – hydroelectric and wind power– and easily beats out two other “clean energy” sources,namely biomass and solar PV (see chart below). Sadly,when the topic of dealing with climate change or the need totransition to clean energy comes up, nuclear power is nearlynever mentioned. In fact, it gets even worse as seen in a recentpublic poll in France commissioned by Orano, whichshowed that 69% of respondents thinks that nuclear powercontributes to GHG production and climate change. How canone of the lowest emitting forms of electricity production beeither ignored or misunderstood so completely? Solving thisconundrum is clearly a major challenge facing the nuclear industry,but it also presents a huge opportunity.