How should companies think about the sustainability of nuclear energy, given its low emissions but long-term waste challenges?

Nuclear energy has very low carbon emissions, which makes it useful for reducing electricity-related emissions, especially in fossil-heavy grids. However, it comes with concerns around radioactive waste, safety, and high costs.

The EU Taxonomy does not classify nuclear as renewable but sees it as a transitional activity if strict safety and waste rules are met. While not renewable, nuclear is low-carbon and may play a role in some sustainability strategies.

The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) is currently reviewing how to include zero-emission sources like nuclear in its revised Corporate Net-Zero Standard. ACT’s R&D team is actively following and contributing to these developments.