NUCLEAR POWER AND THE MANAGEMENT OF THE RADIOACTIVE WASTE LEGACY

摘要

As the only large-scale current provider of low-carbon electricity in the UK nuclear power today avoids the emission of around 35 million tonnes of CO_2 each year in the UK alone (equivalent to over 6% of the UK's total emissions).With today's focus on renewable generation as a key weapon in the fight against global warming,it is important to remember that,all else being unchanged,even if the ambitious target of 20% of the UK power from renewable sources by 2020 is achieved,the UK simply stands still in CO_2 terms-replacing 20% nuclear with 20% renewable.This is because,by then,most existing UK nuclear plants will have closed.