Nuclear plants require 25-30 years of operation before they deliver more energy than is needed to built and maintain them. At the same time, nuclear power is not a feasible alternative. Accident risks are much too high and the waste disposal problem remains unsolved. Indeed, the energy requirements of constructing nuclear plants impose a greenhouse burden of their own. Nuclear plants require 25-30 years of operation before they deliver more energy than is needed to built and maintain them.
Renewable energy comes out by far the winner.
Photovoltaic solar cells require less than three years, while wind turbines yield net energy after only 4-6 months. If status quo interests have distorted the economic debate surrounding climate change response, they have also skewed the discussion in another highly significant respect. They have argued that newly industrializing and non-industrial countries of the South must immediately bind themselves to any greenhouse gas reduction treaty made by the industrial countries. Of course, response to climate change must be truly global. All nations have responsibilities.