The European continent has been witnessing a record-breaking heat wave, causing over 1,300 deaths, as per the World Health Organisation (WHO). These deaths are directly linked to increasing temperatures across the continent. The WHO further stated that Europe has become the fastest-warming continent on Earth, warming at twice the global average.
The sudden temperature rise in the region – which is accelerating at a scary pace – has repositioned nuclear energy as an important energy alternative. The 2015 Paris Agreement has identified nuclear power as an important energy source to meet global warming mitigation targets. But Europe is not the only region suffering from rising global temperatures. The latest estimates suggest that the entire planet is accumulating heat on a massive scale, worsening Earth’s energy imbalance. This scenario raises an important question: Is nuclear energy the answer to climate change?
Global efforts towards net-zero emissions have increased the need for reliable and environmentally friendly electricity. While renewable energy sources such as wind, solar and hydro will continue to play an important role, the modern energy structure requires stable and reliable power sources that can function irrespective of weather conditions. The global energy transition towards climate-friendly alternatives has accelerated recently due to the increasing demand for new energy-generating capacity around the globe, both to replace old fossil fuel plants, especially coal-fired power plants, which emit huge amounts of CO2.
Global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions continue to increase, primarily due to the excessive use of fossil fuels. According to the latest estimates, fossil fuels – oil, gas and coal – account for almost 80 per cent of global energy consumption. This means fossil fuels still meet almost four-fifths of the world’s energy needs but also account for 60 per cent of global GHG emissions.
While Europe’s climate crisis is a recent phenomenon, South Asia, one of the poorest regions, also faces tremendous challenges from climate change. It is one of the regions most vulnerable to climate shocks. According to World Bank reports, the region is experiencing a “new climate normal” in which intensifying floods, heatwaves and droughts are becoming more frequent. In South Asia, Pakistan’s climate crisis is unique. Pakistan consistently ranks among the countries most vulnerable to climate change, and many of its densely populated cities are considered among the most polluted in the world. Interestingly, Pakistan accounts for only one per cent of global GHG emissions. The World Bank also estimates that Pakistan’s climate-related events, such as environmental degradation and air pollution, may cause the country’s GDP to shrink by 18-20 per cent by 2050.
Since Pakistan’s reliance on fossil fuels to meet its energy demands further exacerbates the country’s climate crisis, nuclear energy can play an important role in mitigating its climate vulnerability. Pakistan has a long history of cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in the peaceful application of nuclear technology, and nuclear energy is one area where Pakistan has a symbiotic relationship with the nuclear watchdog.
Since nuclear energy is a low-carbon, environmentally friendly energy source, Pakistan has long realised that investing in nuclear energy can ensure its energy security, reduce GHG emissions, and lessen its dependency on costly imported fossil fuels. According to PAEC, from the 1970s onwards, nuclear power plants have generated around 200 billion units of carbon-free electricity, avoiding more than 122 million tonnes of CO2-equivalent GHG emissions. This quantity of GHG emissions is equivalent to burning around 51 million tonnes of coal. This shows the crucial role of nuclear energy in advancing sustainable, clean power generation in Pakistan.
To meet future energy needs, Pakistan, under its ‘Pakistan in the 21st Century: Vision 2030’, has outlined a promising energy security plan. This plan sets a target of 162,000MW of sustainable and environmentally friendly power generation by 2030. This vision demonstrates Pakistan’s capability and commitment to harnessing the benefits of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. The IAEA’s recognition of Pakistan’s peaceful nuclear programme for its adherence to global safety and security standards, technological advancement, and responsible use of nuclear technology validates its institutionalised command structure and its ambition to become a reliable international partner in the peaceful application of nuclear technology.
Today, nuclear energy is becoming an essential component of the global energy security landscape. In the wake of the climate crisis, the nuclear renaissance has become a reality. Many countries, from Europe to Asia, are expanding their nuclear power generation capacities. In 1954, the Obninsk Nuclear Power Station in Russia (then the USSR) became the first nuclear plant to connect to a national grid. Humankind witnessed, for the first time, the peaceful application of nuclear technology after the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Today, there are over 440 operational nuclear power plants across more than 30 countries. The salience of nuclear energy is increasing day by day. It is, therefore, the responsibility of the developed world, particularly the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) member states, to extend nuclear cooperation to climate-hit countries like Pakistan. Keeping the contemporary climate-induced crisis in view, the global nuclear order, which is based on decades-old discriminatory practices, needs to be revisited. This will pave the way forward for countries like Pakistan to fight climate change with nuclear technology.
The writer is associate director of research at the Center for International Strategic Studies (CISS), Islamabad.
