Opinion: Climate risks to nuclear sites escalate with changing weather patterns

In an era of escalating climate threats, nuclear facilities face unprecedented challenges.

Mark Gongloff writes for Bloomberg.

In short:

• Climate change exacerbates the risk of wildfires and other natural disasters near nuclear sites, raising concerns about safety.
• Recent close calls at facilities like the Pantex Plant in Texas highlight the urgent need for better preparedness against natural disasters.
• Nuclear power plants and weapon complexes are increasingly vulnerable, with most U.S. plants unprepared for climate-induced disasters.

Key quote:

"We need to see more nuclear facilities developing resiliency mechanisms. Not just because of wildfires. We are entering an era where rapidly evolving risks are impacting nuclear operations."

— Nickolas Roth, senior director of nuclear materials security at the Nuclear Threat Initiative

Why this matters:

Nuclear facilities face escalating risks from climate change, including flooding, heatwaves, drought, and wildfires, which threaten their safety and efficiency.

Be sure to read: Disasters are not natural. We—humanity and society—create them and we can choose to prevent them.