With nuclear power facing an uncertain future in many countries, the world risks a steep decline in its use in advanced economies that could result in billions of tonnes of additional carbon emissions, according to a new report by the International Energy Agency. Nuclear is the second-largest low-carbon power source in the world today, accounting for 10% of global electricity generation. It is second only to hydropower at 16%. For advanced economies—including the United States, Canada, the European Union and Japan—nuclear has been the biggest low-carbon source of electricity for more than 30 years and remains so today. Over the past 50 years, the use of nuclear power has reduced CO 2 emissions by more than 60 gigatonnes: nearly two years’ worth of global energy-related emissions. However, the future of nuclear power is uncertain as ageing plants are beginning to close in advanced economies, partly because of policies to […]