The DOI matches its Crossref record; 38 of the 38 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Nuclear energy: Between global electricity demand, worldwide decarbonisation imperativeness, and planetary environmental implications
Abstract
For decades, nuclear energy has been considered an important option for ensuring global energy security, and it has recently started being promoted as a solution for climate change mitigation. However, nuclear power remains highly controversial due to its associated risks - nuclear accidents and problematic radioactive waste management. This review aims to assess the viability of global nuclear energy economically (energy-wise), climatically and environmentally. To this end, the nuclear sector's energy- and climate-related advantages were explored alongside the downsides that mainly relate to radioactive pollution. Economically, it was found that nuclear energy is still an important power source in many countries around the world. Climatically, nuclear power is a low-carbon technology and can therefore be a viable option for the decarbonization of the world's major economies over the following decades, if coupled with other large-scale strategies such as renewable energies. These benefits are however outweighed by the radioactive danger associated to nuclear power plants, either in the context of the nuclear accidents that have already occurred or in that of the large amounts of long-lived nuclear waste that have been growing for decades and that represent a significant environmental and societal threat.
Overview
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
In the citing paper
“nuclear power presents a distinct set of environmental harms related to disposal of nuclear waste, and increased water consumption required for cooling [92]”
From From Efficiency Gains to Rebound Effects: The Problem of Jevons' Paradox in AI's Polarized Environmental Debate (2025) · cites this paper as [92]
In the citing paper
“The study presents an estimation of approximately 1.2-2.4Gt CO 2 emissions that are prevented annually from nuclear power deployment”
From Strategies for mitigation of climate change: a review (2020) · cites this paper as Prăvălie and Bandoc 2018
In the citing paper
“Furthermore, fusion power is characterized as a zero-emission technology (Prăvălie and Bandoc 2018;Gi et al. 2020).”
From Strategies for mitigation of climate change: a review (2020) · cites this paper as Prăvălie and Bandoc 2018
In the citing paper
“While conventional fission-based nuclear plants are suggested to be phased out in future, the introduction of enhanced fusion-based nuclear technology may positively contribute to mitigation efforts in the second half of the century.”
From Strategies for mitigation of climate change: a review (2020) · cites this paper as Prăvălie and Bandoc 2018
In the citing paper
“Fusion power is a new generation of nuclear power, which is more efficient than the conventional fission-based technology and does not carry the hazardous waste disposal risk associated with conventional fission-based nuclear technology.”
From Strategies for mitigation of climate change: a review (2020) · cites this paper as Prăvălie and Bandoc 2018
In the citing paper
“Fusion power is a new generation of nuclear power, which is more efficient than the conventional fission-based technology and does not carry the hazardous waste disposal risk associated with conventional fission-based nuclear technology.”
From Strategies for mitigation of climate change: a review (2020) · cites this paper as Prăvălie and Bandoc 2018
In the citing paper
“to be in line with the 2 °C target stipulated by the Paris agreement, nuclear plant capacity must be expanded to approximately 930 GW by 2050, with a total investment of approximately $ 4 trillion (Prăvălie and Bandoc 2018).”
From Strategies for mitigation of climate change: a review (2020) · cites this paper as Prăvălie and Bandoc 2018
In the citing paper
“Furthermore, risk of environmental radioactive pollution is a major issue related to nuclear power, which is mainly caused through the threat of reactor accidents as well as the danger associated with nuclear waste disposal (Prăvălie and Bandoc 2018;Abdulla et al. 2019).”
From Strategies for mitigation of climate change: a review (2020) · cites this paper as Prăvălie and Bandoc 2018
Citations
Cites
A safe operating space for humanity
Rockström, J., Steffen, W., Noone, K., Persson, Å., Chapin, F. S., Lambin, E. F., Lenton, T. M., Scheffer, M., Folke, C., Schellnhuber, H. J., et al. (2009) · Nature · doi:10.1038/461472a · Cited by 13,333
Opportunities and challenges for a sustainable energy future
Chu, S., & Majumdar, A. (2012) · Nature · doi:10.1038/nature11475 · Cited by 12,550
Stabilization wedges: solving the climate problem for the next 50 years with current technologies
Pacala, S., & Socolow, R. (2004) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.1100103 · Cited by 3,114
A roadmap for rapid decarbonization
Rockström, J., Gaffney, O., Rogelj, J., Meinshausen, M., Nakicenovic, N., & Schellnhuber, H. J. (2017) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.aah3443 · Cited by 1,225
Comparison of the Chernobyl and Fukushima nuclear accidents: A review of the environmental impacts
Steinhäuser, G., Brandl, A., & Johnson, T. E. (2013) · The Science of The Total Environment · doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.10.029 · Cited by 1,061
Increase in observed net carbon dioxide uptake by land and oceans during the past 50 years
Ballantyne, A. P., Alden, C. B., Miller, J. B., Tans, P. P., & White, J. W. C. (2012) · Nature · doi:10.1038/nature11299 · Cited by 784
Valuing the greenhouse gas emissions from nuclear power: A critical survey
Sovacool, B. K. (2008) · Energy Policy · doi:10.1016/j.enpol.2008.04.017 · Cited by 616
Nuclear Fuel in a Reactor Accident
Burns, P. C., Ewing, R. C., & Navrotsky, A. (2012) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.1211285 · Cited by 545
Energy alternatives: Electricity without carbon
Schiermeier, Q., Tollefson, J., Scully, T., Witze, A., & Morton, O. (2008) · Nature · doi:10.1038/454816a · Cited by 482
Understanding the development trends of low-carbon energy technologies: A patent analysis
Albino, V., Ardito, L., Dangelico, R. M., & Petruzzelli, A. M. (2014) · Applied Energy · doi:10.1016/j.apenergy.2014.08.012 · Cited by 410
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Items 201–257 of 257
Ab initio study of the behavior of helium in different Erbium hydrides
Zhang, M., Shen, H., Li, L., Zhao, Z., Nie, J., Zu, X., & Deng, H. (2021) · Materials Today Communications · doi:10.1016/j.mtcomm.2021.102039 · Cited by 2
Microstructure and mechanical properties of Pb-40 Mg-10Al-1B-Y alloys
Yong, W., Wang, X., Wu, Y., Peng, M., & Duan, Y. (2021) · Materials Today Communications · doi:10.1016/j.mtcomm.2021.102371 · Cited by 2
Climate Change: Causes, Impacts, and Strategies for a Sustainable FuturePreprint
Rashid, M. R. (2023) · Preprints.org · doi:10.20944/preprints202312.1729.v1 · Cited by 2
Li, Z., Wu, Y., Du, J., Qian, W., Wang, S., Li, F., Dong, S., & Jiao, S. (2024) · Molecular Medicine · doi:10.1186/s10020-024-00918-4 · Cited by 1
Ben‐Eliyahu, Y., & Kozuch, S. (2025) · Dalton Transactions · doi:10.1039/d5dt01225b · Cited by 1
Hasan, M. A., Ridwan, M., Akter, S., Pattak, D. C., & Biswas, M. K. (2025) · Nuclear Engineering and Technology · doi:10.1016/j.net.2025.104005 · Cited by 1
Wakoli, V. M., Manyali, G. S., Nakitare, M. W., & Wafula, J. W. (2026) · Next Materials · doi:10.1016/j.nxmate.2026.102581 · Cited by 1
RENEWING NUCLEAR POWER AND TECHNOLOGY
(2018) · Geopolitics History and International Relations · doi:10.22381/ghir10120186 · Cited by 1
Solar Energy: Potential and Toxicology
Ancha, B., Bashir, S., KingSanders, N., & Liu, J. L. (2019) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-662-59594-7_1 · Cited by 1
Modeling of piezoelectric power nano-generators using Brownian particles
Sun, F., & Singh, M. R. (2020) · Journal of Intelligent Material Systems and Structures · doi:10.1177/1045389x20965704 · Cited by 1
Source preparation by electrodeposition for uranium measurement via alpha spectrometry
Семенищев, В. С., Mikhalev, S. V., Titova, S. M., & Malyshev, A. S. (2020) · AIP conference proceedings · doi:10.1063/5.0032493 · Cited by 1
The Analysis of High School Students’ Perception and Knowledge of Renewable and Nuclear Energy
Chen, W. C., & Chen, T. (2022) · Journal of Student Research · doi:10.47611/jsrhs.v11i4.3211 · Cited by 1
Pattiroei, A. A., Anshari, M., Hamdan, M., & Ali, E. (2023) · Advances in public policy and administration (APPA) book series · doi:10.4018/978-1-6684-8903-1.ch015 · Cited by 1
Evaluating Nuclear Energy's Future as a Renewable Power Source
Meidani, A., Meydani, A., & Kazeminasab, M. M. (2023) · International Electrical Power Distribution Conference (EPDC) · doi:10.1109/epdc59105.2023.10218885 · Cited by 1
Impact of gamma rays on DNA quality and genetic traits in human blood samples
Ajlouni, A.-W., Refaat, A. M., Almhaini, J. A., Bazuhair, A. S., Al-Qahtani, S. M., Althomali, M., Kraishan, A. F., Al-Ameryeen, H. A., & Alomari, A. (2024) · Radiation effects and defects in solids · doi:10.1080/10420150.2024.2347458 · Cited by 1
Erdem, O., Daley, K., Hoelzle, G., & Radaideh, M. I. (2025) · Energy Conversion and Management X · doi:10.1016/j.ecmx.2025.100923 · Cited by 1
Oszczak-Nowińska, A., Fuks, L., Fronczyk, J., & Świątkowski, A. (2025) · Environmental Science and Pollution Research · doi:10.1007/s11356-025-36302-w · Cited by 1
Technological Sovereignty as a Current Energy Security Challenge. Preliminary analysis
Chigarev, B. N. (2026) · Information and Innovations · doi:10.31432/1994-2443.2025.15 · Cited by 1
6. In Search of a Strategy for Public Investment in Research and Innovation
Palma, D., Silvani, A., & Stilo, A. M. (2020) · Open reports series · doi:10.11647/obp.0222.06 · Cited by 1
Corona Virus Echoes of Earth Grumbling: A Review
Ashrafizadeh, S. N., & Seifollahi, Z. (2020) · Iranica Journal of Energy and Environment · doi:10.5829/ijee.2020.11.03.10 · Cited by 1
Why Zambia’s System of Energy Provision Did Not Prevent the Power Outages of 2015 and 2016
Ahmed, I. (2021) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-71266-2_5 · Cited by 1
Cerniglia, F., & Saraceno, F. (2020) · Open reports series · doi:10.11647/obp.0222.11 · Cited by 1
Ab initio study of the effects of helium on the mechanical properties of different erbium hydrides
Zhang, M., Li, L., Zhao, Z., Nie, J., Zu, X., & Deng, H. (2021) · Communications in Theoretical Physics · doi:10.1088/1572-9494/abe699
6. Trends and Patterns in Public Investment in Spain
Castro, J. V., & Maza, A. (2021) · Open reports series · doi:10.11647/obp.0280.06
Wind Energy and Solar PV Developments in the USA
Muneer, T., Gago, E. J., & Berrizbeitia, S. E. (2022) · Green energy and technology · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-92010-4_6
Bassanini, F., Curzio, A. Q., & Ragot, X. (2020) · Open reports series · doi:10.11647/obp.0222.12
Synthesis of nano-MgO hybrid SDB hydrophobic catalyst carriers and its adsorption behavior of Fe3+
Fan, Y., Peng, H., Li, C., Fu, K., Ren, X. Y., Yang, H., Lin, S. D., & Liu, C. (2023) · International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology · doi:10.1007/s13762-023-05234-8
Development Prospects for Nuclear and Solar Energy in The U.S.
Song, Z. (2024) · Highlights in Science Engineering and Technology · doi:10.54097/ek2g1y80
IMPLEMENTING CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT TO REDUCE THE CARBON FOOTPRINT IN HYDROGEN PRODUCTIONPreprint
Olajide, H. E. (2025) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.5028597
Luo, F., Wang, J., Li, Y., Yuan, B., & Lu, X. (2025) · Chemical Engineering Science · doi:10.1016/j.ces.2025.121333
Raj, P. (2025) · Journal of Informatics Education and Research · doi:10.52783/jier.v5i2.2632
Gatea, M. A., kadhum, S. J., & Al-Nasri, S. K. (2025) · AIP conference proceedings · doi:10.1063/5.0257372
The Effect of Argumentation-Based Practices on 8th Grade Students' Views on Socioscientific Issues
Karışan, D., & Aydın, S. (2025) · Kastamonu Eğitim Dergisi · doi:10.24106/kefdergi.1795799
Enerji Politikaları ve Kamu Kabulü: Nükleer Sektördeki Teknolojik Yenilikler Üzerine Bir Çalışma
Elbir, A. (2026) · Mühendis ve Makina · doi:10.46399/muhendismakina.1575301
Bulliard, M., Soliva, R., Milesi, G., Gerbeaud, O., Laramas, A., & Mercadier, J. (2026) · Journal of Structural Geology · doi:10.1016/j.jsg.2026.105631
Reliability Evaluation Method for High-Temperature Radiation-resistant Piezoelectric Sensors
Zhou, C., Liu, C., Chen, X., Zhan, H., Peng, C., & Yang, T. (2025) · Global Reliability and Prognostics and Health Management Conference (PHM) · doi:10.1109/phm-xian66756.2025.11427786
Abbasi, B. A., Khan, M. H., Gul, A., Haq, I. U., & Azeem, M. U. (2026) · Business Strategy and the Environment · doi:10.1002/bse.70894
Bampoky, N. A., Medeiros, S. L. S., Pinheiro, C. G. D. S., Vasconcelos, I. F., & dos Santos, L. P. M. (2026) · Sustainability · doi:10.3390/su18105022
What explains the difference in nuclear energy policies? A comparison between France and Germany
Chun, J., Soraya, T.-B., & Chung, S.-Y. (2026) · Frontiers in Sustainable Energy Policy · doi:10.3389/fsuep.2026.1871823
Kim, B., Lim, Y., Devarayapalli, K. C., Kumaravel, S., & Lee, D. S. (2026) · Journal of Water Process Engineering · doi:10.1016/j.jwpe.2026.110668
Aloraini, D. A., & Saeed, A. (2026) · Progress in Nuclear Energy · doi:10.1016/j.pnucene.2026.106559
Covalent organic frameworks loaded bamboo fiber based paper for rapid iodine adsorption
Zhang, P., Wang, Z., Liu, S., Yan, J., Dai, W., Liu, J., Li, S., Wang, L., & Wang, J. (2026) · Chemical Engineering Journal · doi:10.1016/j.cej.2026.181303
Mosses as Bioindicators of Atmospheric Radionuclide Deposition: Evidence from Iğdır, Türkiye
Yavuz, S., Ergi̇nal, A. E., & Şahi̇ner, E. (2026) · Water Air & Soil Pollution · doi:10.1007/s11270-026-09960-w
Hyper-cross-linked cellulose-based aerogels for the selective capture of 137 Cs + and I 2
Sun, L., Gu, X., Zhang, C., Zhou, F., Guo, L., Ma, X., Pan, X., Ding, Q., Rong, J., & Zheng, X. (2026) · New Journal of Chemistry · doi:10.1039/d6nj02712a
Rethinking Small State Paradigm: Nuclear Pragmatism in Slovakia under the European Green Deal
Kıprızlı, G. (2026) · Uluslararası Ekonomi ve Yenilik Dergisi · doi:10.20979/ueyd.2009996
Damacet, P. (2026) · Materials Chemistry Frontiers · doi:10.1039/d6qm00451b
Sayad, S., Alahyarizadeh, G., & Amigó, N. (2026) · Discover Mechanical Engineering · doi:10.1007/s44245-026-00371-z
Rashid, K. H., Siddique, N. A., Akter, R., Ahmed, J., Faisal, M., Algethami, J. S., Harraz, F. A., Uddin, J., Rahman, M. M., Singha, N. R., et al. (2026) · RSC Advances · doi:10.1039/d6ra08299h
Metadata
- Authors
- Prăvălie, R., & Bandoc, G.
- Affiliations
- University of Bucharest (RO)
- Corresponding author
- Bandoc, Georgeta
- ORCID
- Prăvălie, Remus
- Venue
- Journal of Environmental Management
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2018-03
- Volume
- 209
- Pages
- 81-92
- ISSN
- 0301-4797 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2782515710
- Cited by
- 259
- References
- 38
- Citations by year
- 2026: 22 · 2025: 40 · 2024: 24 · 2023: 37 · 2022: 35 · 2021: 43 · 2020: 39 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 9
- FWCI
- 1.40
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Environmental Management (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Energy › Energy Engineering and Power Technology › Advanced Power Generation Technologies
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Safety, Risk, Reliability and Quality › Nuclear and radioactivity studies
- Physical Sciences › Energy › Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment › Global Energy and Sustainability Research
- Keywords
- nuclear energy, decarbonization, climate change mitigation, energy security, nuclear accidents, nuclear waste management, radioactive contamination, economic feasibility, environmental impact, renewable energy integration
- MeSH terms
- Conservation of Energy Resources, Electricity, Nuclear Energy, Radioactive Waste, Waste Management, Renewable Energy
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
