For the recognition of nuclear power in the energy transition
Nuclear power is the lowest-carbon energy source in France. Thanks to nuclear, our electricity is over 90% clean, and safe, all the time. But this message is missing from the media space.
Key findings
- The current level of greenhouse gas emissions puts us on a path of anthropogenic global warming from +4°C up to +6°C at the end of century.
- More than 80% of the world's energy still comes from coal, oil and gas, whose resources will quickly reach their limits, and from unsustainable biomass.
- All low-carbon energy sources are necessary to move away from fossil-fuels while guaranteeing as many people as possible fair and non-precarious access to energy.
- This need comes in a world where the demand for natural resources and ecosystems will increase even further, therefore becoming even more precious.
- Nuclear power presents major objective advantages in the face of this combination of challenges.
- However, it is the subject of particularly systematic and sustained disinformation which has induced and entrenched significant mistrust on the part of the population.
- The re-establishment of the facts and the correct information of the general public are essential conditions for the vitality of our democracy.
- Nuclear power must regain its rightful place in the debate, on a peaceful and factual basis, so that citizens are able to make the free and deliberate choices on their common future.
Nuclear is
- a low-carbon energy source
- which does not pollute the ambient air,
- has the least impact in terms of occupied space and natural resources consumed,
- saves lives, by having the lowest human balance in relation to the energy produced,
- has the capacity to decarbonise electricity but also heat production, and thermal combustion through the production of hydrogen and synthetic fuels,
- is an instrument of energy solidarity,
- a vector of skilled, non-relocatable jobs, scientific research and innovation,
- an indispensable tool in space exploration,
- an invaluable tool for medicine,
- a water and food security tool.
We have to phase out carbon emissions at a rate of several percent a year. I don't see any way we can do that without the help of nuclear power. Nuclear power is essentially carbon-free energy.
[For energy] to be cleaner and have more efficiency, I do not believe that in [nuclear] it is necessary to make an enemy.
The mindset that you cannot be pro-environment and pro-nuclear at the same time needs challenging. The more research I read, the more I learned about how nuclear power is an essential tool in the battle to address climate change.
I ask myself the question, how are we going to replace nuclear power? It is not fair to say that it is possible with renewable energies.
The attitude towards energy is more a matter of posture and followingism than of a real culture which requires making the effort to look into the problem. In this sense, I am in favor of continuing research into nuclear energy
Governments need to realize that the cleanest and safest energy, statistically, is nuclear energy… We need to try to produce as many nuclear power stations as possible.
From now on, the Finnish Green Party “is open to any research and development of low emission and environmentally friendly technologies. […] We do not have a dogmatic attitude"
We should build more nuclear power plants. I think that's a better way to generate energy than certainly a coal power plant or a natural gas power plant
We’ve got to be prepared to rethink certain things. We have to open our minds to third generation nuclear energy being a possible solution.
In many developing countries millions of lives remain below the poverty line and we have to think about these people ... It is not fair to look at nuclear power on one side when making a decision.
If we’re going to tackle global warming, nuclear power is the only way to generate massive amounts of power
In France, there is an anti-nuclear litany that forbids thinking... Nuclear power has an advantage, which is that it produces extremely little greenhouse gases. (...) Electricity makes it possible to make the link between building, mobility and carbon-free production
We are called upon to uphold the basic bargain of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty – that all nations have a right to peaceful nuclear energy
We need to rely more obviously on solar and wind; those are givens today. But Given this challenge we face today and given the progress of fourth general nuclear, go for it. No other alternatives. Zero emissions.
My goal is for our civilization to move beyond fossil fuels. And if nuclear is this incredibly powerful tool that we have in our fight against climate change, I don’t see why we shouldn’t be using it, or at least having it be a part of the conversation.
Nuclear is ideal for dealing with climate change, because it is the only carbon-free, scalable energy source that’s available 24 hours a day
This is crisis mode and we should be using all the tools that we have, especially the one sitting right here in front of us
I, myself think that nuclear power has a great future. I think that we should look at it seriously again.
It’s like half the people that were out there saying “No nukes! Shut down the power plants!” are now realizing nuclear is the best way to go for energy for the future
Today we must maintain, if not restore, the share of nuclear power in our country. An energy (…), ensuring a large part of our energy independence and emitting zero greenhouse gases.
As a result of over-excited media reporting … that single word [Fukushima] has probably condemned nuclear power for another generation, when in fact the accident produced no radiation-related deaths
To produce low-carbon electricity ON DEMAND, nuclear is the energy with the greatest future. This is what seems rational to me.
Association
The Voices of Nuclear is a citizen association of volunteers, independent of any economic, institutional, union or political ties.
Our goal is to contribute to:
- the recognition of nuclear energy as essential to the low carbon energy transition.
- to the reestablishment of the facts concerning this scientific and industrial sector.
- highlighting the contribution of the nuclear industry to the human and environmental challenges facing our societies, individually and collectively.
Composed of several hundred members and volunteers from all over France and other European countries, experts in the field as well as ordinary citizens, our association sets up multiple projects such as Stand Up for Nuclear, informational and awareness-raising campaigns and many other projects that you can discover on our website.
Do you want to act for nuclear power and the climate? Help us by joining or becoming a volunteer!
Meet our voices
Our volunteers are fathers, mothers, students, engineers. They are everywhere. Because everyone has a role to play in our mission. Meet them!
Our information resources
We produce a lot of content in various forms – fact sheets, articles, FAQs. You can find them in the “Campaigns” section!
