#13 Nuclear power contributes to responsible consumption

(by reindustrializing Europe which allows short circuit consumption)

How does nuclear contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goal #12: Responsible Consumption and Production?

Many modes of production and consumption in the modern world are unsustainable. They must allow everyone to access decent living conditions while limiting their impact.

Currently, billions of people lack access to the quality of life that developed countries have enjoyed for many decades. Nuclear power has already played a major role in solving this challenge.

The raw material requirements of nuclear power are much lower per unit of electricity produced than other clean energy sources.

Nuclear power plants generate large amounts of electricity from a dense energy source, using material that can be recycled through reprocessing or new nuclear fuel cycles.

Nuclear technologies can also help make other sectors more sustainable. Cotton is well known to require a lot of water. An improved cotton plant increasing yields by 30% or more has been developed using nuclear techniques, which could help reduce the amount of water required.

The environmental standards of the European Union are better than most of the countries from which it imports manufactured products. (Re)industrialize in France and in Europe means shortening supply circuits and reducing the carbon and environmental footprint of the goods consumed. However, this (re)industrialization requires large quantities of reliable, controllable and low-carbon energy.

The full report of the World Nuclear Association is available here.