Touted as a clean alternative, nuclear energy is the object of some debate. This power source is enabled through atomic fission that generates heat. If the environmental goal is to reduce carbon emissions, then nuclear energy is an excellent choice, as its carbon emissions are low.
Arguments against nuclear energy as a renewable source include the need for uranium to fuel the process. Uranium as a source these days is limited and needs to be extracted, and in some cases, imported. There are ways, however, to extract it well into the future, supporters say.
Another argument is concern about radioactive nuclear waste as a harmful pollutant. However, nuclear waste is recyclable, and low levels of radioactivity can actually be beneficial to the natural environment in some cases. For these reasons, some argue that the most effective and efficient solution to address climate change is to combine wind and solar energy with nuclear.