The World Nuclear Association has backed the International Energy Agency’s World Energy Outlook which shows “urgent action” is needed to steer the planet’s energy system onto a safer, lower-carbon path.

WNA Director General Agneta Rising noted that the IEA’s central scenario would set the world on a path of a “dangerous increase in global temperatures”.

“We must act to switch to cleaner and more affordable energy sources,” Rising said.

He said nuclear energy was a cost-effective way of producing reliable low-carbon electricity on a large scale and must form an increasing part of the world’s energy supply, “if we are to get serious about addressing climate change".

This year’s World Energy Outlook includes a special focus on nuclear energy, examining the outlook for nuclear power and its implications.

The report recognised the many benefits of nuclear energy, including enhanced energy security, system reliability and low emissions.

“Nuclear plants can contribute to the reliability of the power system where they increase the diversity of power generation technologies in the system,” the IEA report stated.

“For countries that import energy, it can reduce their dependence on foreign supplies and limit their exposure to fuel price movements in international markets.”

"Nuclear power is one of the few options available at scale to reduce carbon-dioxide emissions while providing or displacing other forms of base load generation. It has avoided the release of an estimated 56 gigatonnes of CO2 since 1971, or almost two years of total global emissions at current rates.”