The role of Nuclear energy for fighting climate change : assets and weaknesses in a global perspective

Nuclear fission energy is a carbon-free source of electricity which makes particularly economical use of matter and space, and which has made France the "good student" in the fight against greenhouse gases. It is widely deployed in our country, which is an asset when we seriously ask ourselves the question of the trajectory to be constructed and not simply that of the objective to be achieved. As such, it fully has its place in the energy strategies to be implemented in the face of global warming. But the analysis of its strengths and weaknesses requires an approach integrating the issue of uranium resources, the issue of safety and that of aging of equipment, the problems associated with the dismantling of plants at the end of their life, and finally management. of the waste produced by this energy source. None of these aspects can be tackled in isolation from the others, none of these issues can be addressed without thinking about the timescales involved. Finally, the question of the coexistence of nuclear energy and other sources of electricity requires reflection on the nature of the networks, storage capacities and the flexibility of the energy mix. The question of the cost of nuclear power can be addressed within the framework of this global approach only.