Nuclear power decreases greenhouse gas emissions originating from electricity production

Climate change mitigation is one of the major challenges for the humankind. International measures to which all countries commit themselves are called for in order to solve the problem. The European Union has decided in spring 2007 to decrease the greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent compared to the 1990 level by the year 2020. The most important practical measures are improving the energy efficiency and the use of renewables and nuclear power.

Electricity can be generated without carbon dioxide emissions with nuclear, hydro and wind power. Also the use of biomass does not increase the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Without nuclear power, the annual carbon dioxide emissions in Finland would be about 20 million tons higher. Constructing additional nuclear power is the most effective and economical single method to decrease the carbon dioxide emissions from electricity production in Finland.