There is as much electricity generated by nuclear power today as from all sources worldwide in 1960. Several environmental issues need to be considered when comparing fossil fuels with nuclear power. Carbon dioxide currently accounts for half of the human-contributed portion of the global warming effect of the atmosphere. The UN Intergovernment Panel on Climate Change has comprehensively reviewed global warming and has reached a consensus that the phenomenon is real and does pose a significant environmental threat during the next century if fossil fuel use continues even at present global levels. According to the IPCC, to stabilise the carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere at present levels, a 50-80 per cent reduction in all emissions would be required.
Nuclear power has a role to play in reducing greenhouse gases.
Use of Natural Resources Coal and other fossil fuels are required in a much larger quantities than uranium to produce the equivalent amount of electricity. Nuclear power already has substantially reduced the use of fossil fuels. There are particular questions of ethics and opportunity cost in the use of gas to generate base-load power. See also Sustainable Energy in this series. World Energy Outlook 1998.