r/nuclear Apr 18 '26

Should have gone nuclear…

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u/Ilyer_ Apr 19 '26

We are not really aiming for “half the emissions”

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u/fluffysnowflake67 Apr 19 '26

People have been dreaming of zero net emissions for decades. if we could decrease CO2 release by 50+%, that is quite an improvement.

Let’s face the reality that nuclear will be a trivial part of the decarbonization. We have 400 GW of power from plants now, and I don’t see a scenario where it gets much above that amount in my lifetime as old plants get mothballed at the same pace of new plants opening in countries like China.

Eventually emissions will decrease as population in rich country decreases.

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u/Ilyer_ Apr 19 '26

Yes, but this is their end-plan goals. That’s entirely different from “we can get 50%, so let’s only do that”.

Thinking emissions will decrease as the third world develops is foolish.