Nuclear power is one of the cleanest and most efficient ways to produce large amounts of electricity. It is estimated that on a global scale, nuclear reduces carbon dioxide emissions by about 2.5 billion tonnes per year relative to the main alternative of coal-fired generation.
Nuclear generating stations produce no greenhouse gases or other air emissions that contribute to smog and acid rain. When all of the activities involved in generating nuclear power are considered, the emissions are a tiny fraction of what is generated by fossil-fuelled generation per unit of energy and are comparable with renewable energy sources.
Uranium mines, particularly underground mines or in-situ recovery operations, have a small environmental footprint considering the large amount of energy they produce. Canadian operations meet both provincial and national environmental standards, and all current operations must have decommissioning plans and financing in place prior to licence approval.
As one of the few energy sources that is proven and available now, expansion of the nuclear industry can meet growing energy demand and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. Rather than competing with renewable sources such as wind and solar, the nuclear industry seeks to partner with these sources and encourage their development as a way to start solving energy and environmental concerns quickly.
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