The Climate Vulnerabilities of Global Nuclear Power

Nuclear power—a source of low-carbon electricity—is exposed toincreasing risks from climate change. Intensifying storms, droughts, extremeprecipitation, wildfires, higher temperatures, and sea-level rise threatensupply disruptions and facility damage. Approximately 64 percent of installedcapacity commenced operation between thirty and forty-eight years ago, beforeclimate change was considered in plant design or construction. Globally, 516million people reside within a fifty mile (80 km) radius of at least oneoperating nuclear power plant, and 20 million reside within a ten mile (16 km)radius, and could face health and safety risks resulting from an extreme eventinduced by climate change. Roughly 41 percent of nuclear power plants operatenear seacoasts, making them vulnerable to increasing storm intensity andsea-level rise. Inland plants face exposure to other climate risks, such asincreasingly severe wildfires and warmer water temperatures. No entity hasresponsibility for conducting risk assessments that adequately evaluate theclimate vulnerabilities of nuclear power and the subsequent threats tointernational energy security, the environment, and human health. Acomprehensive risk assessment by international agencies and the development ofnational and international standards is necessary to mitigate risks for new andexisting plants.