The role of low-carbon energy, such as renewable energy and nuclear power, is crucial in the mitigation of climate change. According to the report published by Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC) in October 2018 nuclear energy has a pivotal role in prevention of climate change. Nuclear power remains a major part of the energy selection of Finland and the entire EU as we make our way towards a carbon-neutral society. In 2018, the share of nuclear power was about 33 percent of all electricity produced in Finland.
The Commission published a new climate strategy that reaches to the year 2050 aiming to a carbon neutral society. The strategy will direct EU’s climate and energy policy during the term of the next Commission. In the strategy, nuclear energy is considered a pivotal part of European energy system beside renewable energy sources.
Nuclear electricity is during its entire lifecycle an as environmentally friendly electricity production method in terms of greenhouse gas emissions as wind power, hydropower and solar power. The use of bioenergy does not add to the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere either. Without the use of nuclear power, annual carbon dioxide emissions would be 20 tons higher in Finland at present.
