Misconceptions

The transport of radioactive materials from the nuclear industry is strictly regulated due to the diversity of the materials concerned and the safety issues they imply. The most dangerous packages are designed to withstand extreme conditions, such as falls, violent impact, deep submersion, and intense fires.

Nuclear power is a low-carbon energy. Compared to fossil fuels, nuclear-related CO₂ emissions are very low, similar to renewables like wind and solar.

Nuclear fusion is promising, but nevertheless remains at the research stage and its commercial viability is very uncertain. Even in favorable scenarios, nuclear fusion will only supply a small percentage of global electricity demand by the end of the century.

Chernobyl (1986) was the worst civilian nuclear accident. 2 workers died immediately, 28 of the 134 workers who received extreme doses died within one year, and another 50 have died since. WHO calculates a few thousand potential deaths among the most at-risk populations. But the worst industrial disaster of the twentieth century remains the Bhopal chemical accident in India (1984), with 5,000 - 25,000 dead and 200,000 - 800,000 injured.

The most comprehensive studies on the subject are clear, the continued operation of nuclear power plants would have reduced German CO₂ emissions by tens of millions of metric tons each year. Keeping in mind that the carbon footprint for one passenger on a round trip Paris-New York flight is about 1.5 metric tons of CO₂.

In accordance with French law, the costs of dismantling and managing nuclear waste are included in the cost of nuclear energy, in the form of mandatory financial provisions established by the operator. These costs are also systematically incorporated into assessments when developing public policies.

The level of radioactivity in the Fukushima region today is comparable to the natural radioactivity of several regions of the world where no health effects have been demonstrated.

WHO has estimated about 8,000 potential deaths due to radiation at Chernobyl. As for Fukushima, UNSCEAR does not expect any detectable increase in cases of cancer or mortality due to radiation exposure given the low doses received.