Nuclear Power Is Sustainable and Supports Sustainable Development Sustainable Development ALL segments of the steadily growing world population have rising aspirations for better economic conditions and a Throughout the discussions, sustainable development has When evaluated in light of impact on climate, land use, waste higher standard of living. Both the growing population and been a key consideration. What is sustainable development? disposal, fuel availability, safety (occupational, environmental rising aspirations have helped fuel an already burgeoning It is seen as development that meets the needs of the present and personal), internalized environmental costs, and technology demand for energy worldwide. Most of that energy has been generation without compromising the ability of future transfer, nuclear power is an energy option that is itself and is still being derived from fossil fuels. Current estimates generations to meet their needs. sustainable and can help nations achieve widely held goals suggest that demand for electricity will double between This concept is expanded in the stated principles of the Rio of sustainable development. 2000 and 2020. Declaration. Human beings are said to be at the center of Nuclear power must be included in the list of energy options Nuclear power already contributes 17% of the world’s concerns for sustainable development; they are entitled to a available for use by nations seeking to achieve UNFCCC electricity without producing greenhouse gases (GHG). The healthy and productive life in harmony with nature. States are targets and fulfill the promise of the Rio Declaration on increased demand for energy and the increased use of fossil seen as having the right, within the principles of international Environment and Development and Agenda 21. fuels, however, have run headlong into obstacles. law, to exploit their own resources and the responsibility to ensure that any activities within their jurisdiction do not cause damage to the environment or other States. In addition, the Problems Encountered by right to development must be fulfilled so as to equitably meet Carbon-based Energy the developmental and environmental needs of present and future generations. Eradication of poverty is seen as a Nuclear Power is Part of the Solution Concerns about constantly rising levels of GHG and their required element of sustainable development. potential for serious negative impact on the world’s climate It is generally held that sustainable development requires led to development of the United Nations Framework attention to: Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). During the 1997 Kyoto conference of those States involved in UNFCCC, ¥ infrastructure such as schools, factories targets were established for GHG emission reductions. As a and transportation result, developed nations are called upon to reduce their GHG ¥ disease prevention and medical treatment emissions below 1990 levels by 2008-2012. Each country’s food availability and protection target is slightly different; ¥ water in adequate quantities however, developed ¥ nations have a collective ¥ sewage treatment commitment to reduce ¥ steady and abundant supply of energy, GHG emissions below specifically, electricity 1990 levels. Yet, in 1998 Nuclear technologies contribute significantly to all of these and 1999, GHG emissions needs.* In addition, electricity generated from the use of were actually greater than nuclear power satisfies the economic and environmental in 1990. American Nuclear Society protection goals in the Rio Principles. 555 North Kensington Avenue Discussions about the Nuclear Power: methods allowed for achieving the required reductions have LaGrange Park, IL 60526 USA included procedures for trading emission “credits,” rules on 708-352-6611 A Sustainable Clean Development Mechanisms, and other approaches to *The many contributions of nuclear technologies to Fax 708-352-0499 encourage an increase in the use of energy technologies that sustainable development are explored in a separate brochure, minimize GHG emissions. “Nuclear Science & Technology: Crucial to Sustainable [email protected] Source of Energy The discussions of new ways to supply energy have been Development,” available from the American Nuclear Society www.ans.org carried out in the context of the Rio Declaration on and viewable on its web site. Environment and Development and have involved the principles of Sustainable Development set forth in Agenda 21. But, the question remains: Is nuclear power itself a Waste Disposal Long-lasting Reserves Environmental and Personal Safety sustainable energy source? To answer, we must examine this question, “Can nuclear Rather than disperse massive Known fuel resources for nuclear power plants are estimated Potential environmental impacts from nuclear power operations power be used to help meet the current energy needs of quantities of waste products over to provide for 250 years of consumption using current “once are carefully controlled and regulated. When operated according our society without compromising the ability of future wide areas, as is the case with through” commercial reactor technology. The technology to current stringent safety standards, nuclear plants pose no threat generations to meet their needs?” emissions from fossil fuel plants exists (though it is not yet significantly deployed), with multi- to workers, to society or to the environment. In the U.S., no (sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, pass fuel usage and fast reactors, to utilize even more energy deaths have ever resulted from radiation in the operation of a We believe the answer to both questions is clear and carbon dioxide, and toxic metals from each fuel sample. Recycling of uranium and plutonium commercial nuclear power plant and no significant radiation simple Ð YES! such as arsenic and mercury could extend the fuel supply for up to 10,000 years of releases have taken place. contained in the fly ash), nuclear consumption. Uranium is available in relative abundance in By contrast, accidents, injuries, illnesses and deaths related to power plant operators are able to politically stable countries. In addition, research on extracting Greenhouse Gases and UNFCCC other energy sources are common. Yet, they receive relatively consolidate the waste and sequester uranium from seawater shows promise of a virtually little attention from the media or the public, especially when Using nuclear power helps move nations toward compliance it safely while its radiation level inexhaustible future supply. compared with even minor events involving radioactive materials. with their commitments under the UNFCCC. Nuclear power drops. By comparison, some of the These known resources clearly provide for many future Over the long term, the fission of nuclear fuel resources and safe plants do not produce greenhouse gases. In fact, they have waste dispersed into the air from fossil fuel plants is toxic and generations without isolation of the radioactive wastes generated in that process helped several nations to reduce their GHG emissions will remain so forever. The record of the civilian nuclear competing for limited actually reduce the exposure of the biosphere to nuclear radiation. significantly.* Moreover, it is power industry in safely isolating both low-level and high- fossil fuel materials (The quantity of fossil fuel, such as coal, required to provide possible for nations with level nuclear wastes has been excellent. There have been no or for the air and land equivalent amounts of energy would release particulates and greater utilization of significant releases of nuclear waste to the environment, and required for waste gases containing radioactive materials that result in greater expo- nuclear power to meet the improved repositories such as the recently licensed Waste disposal and deploy- sure to radiation than would be the case using nuclear power.) demand for increased Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in the U.S. offer promise of an ment of extensive decentralized generating systems. energy while still reducing even more secure future. emissions of greenhouse gases. Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Preservation of Fossil Resources Internalized Environmental Costs From the early days of nuclear power development there has Land Use For nuclear power, environmental costs are already Controlled fission of small amounts of uranium fuel can be been widespread concern that increased use of nuclear power internalized as a result of stringent regulations. Yet, nuclear would lead to the diversion of nuclear materials to clandestine Compared to other non-carbon-based and carbon-neutral used to generate large amounts of electricity without burning power remains competitively priced. Other energy sources do weapons production. The system of international safeguards energy options, nuclear power plants require far less land carbon-based fuel sources. The amount of fuel (mass and NOT have their environmental costs internalized, as called for implemented by the IAEA, however, has been effective in pre- area. For a 1000-MW plant, site requirements are estimated as volume) required for nuclear power is significantly less than in the Rio Declaration. venting diversions of nuclear materials from commercial power follows: nuclear, 1-4 km2; solar or photovoltaic park, 20-50 km2; that required for a fossil-fueled plant. reactors or reprocessing plants. The effectiveness of the safe- a wind field, 50-150 km2; and One ton of uranium produces as much energy as 17,000 tons guard program is aided by the extreme technical difficulties biomass, 4,000-6,000 km2. of coal. inherent in converting nuclear material produced in power Projections suggest that in 2050, Nuclear power plants utilize reactors to weapons-grade material. half of the world’s population resources of fissionable will live in large cities. This will heavy metal (uranium) require concentrated energy production sys- which has no other major Technology Transfer tems in proximity to those population masses. Use use. Using uranium in of large land areas for energy production will be impractical. this way slows the Transfer of technology to developing countries has made a major depletion rate of fossil resources and helps preserve fossil contribution to energy production in developing countries, such fuel resources to meet future development needs. Further, it as Brazil, China, India, Korea, Argentina, and *Refer to the brochure, “Reducing Carbon Dioxide frees fossil resources so they can be used for other critical South Africa. This ongoing technology Emissions: Moving Toward the Targets,” available from the applications, such as feed stocks for chemical processes, transfer continues to build technical American Nuclear Society and viewable on its web site. personal transportation, and residential heating and cooking. capacities to manage nuclear material Lowering the demand for fossil fuels in developed countries and the ability to regulate, oversee, contributes to environmental equity by allowing developing and ensure its safety. As a result, the countries to have vital energy supplies at lower cost. foundation is being built in the developing world for additional use of nuclear energy and promotion of the beneficial uses of nuclear science and technology in the future.