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The National Academies Earth and Life Studies invites you to join a discussion about the role of nuclear energy in addressing climate change on Thursday, 25 May 2023, 3–4:15 pm ET.

Nuclear energy is one of the most reliable sources of carbon-free electricity, and maintaining the current nuclear power fleet is a key part of US trajectories to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. However, nuclear energy is not without risks, and it produces radioactive waste that lasts for millennia. As such, nuclear energy is a contentious topic with complex tradeoffs. Kara Colton (Energy Communities Alliance) will moderate a nuanced conversation with Ahmed Abdulla (Carleton University) and Michael Ford (Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory) about the challenges and opportunities related to the current and future role of nuclear energy in efforts to decarbonize the United States. The conversation will touch on the science and engineering of nuclear reactors; the current social, political, and regulatory environment around nuclear energy in the United States; and lessons that can be learned from other countries that also employ nuclear energy.

The webinar will be webcast on the Climate Conversations: Nuclear Energy web page. Closed captioning will be provided. The conversation will include questions from the audience and will be recorded and available to view on the page after the event.

Register for this webinar on the National Academies website.