The Role of Nuclear Energy in Reducing Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions and Energy Security: A Systematic Review

Abstract

The energy sector accounts for about two-thirds of all human-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions due to the reliance on fossil-based fuels. This is a significant concern as it can have dire consequences on the survival of humankind and disrupt other natural processes. The research indicated that some mitigation measures to curb GHG emissions are to increase energy from low-carbon sources such as nuclear. However, due to the continuous adverse climate change impact, a comprehensive systematic review of research in this area must be conducted to inform policy practice and future studies. This study attempts to address this gap by mapping the global reflections on the potential of nuclear technology to mitigate GHG through a bibliometric review process. A total of 741 studies were retrieved from the Scopus database and a few from Google Scholar, spanning from 1962 to 2022, and analyzed using a science mapping tool—VOSviewer. The study confirmed that fossil fuels are a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions and contributor to greenhouse emissions. Those authors concluded that promoting clean and alternative energy sources to fossil fuels would help reduce carbon emissions. Although renewable energy has proven to be very efficient among pollution and climate change mitigation sources, nuclear energy is the most dependable option for meeting national and regional CO2 emission targets while meeting energy supply needs. The bibliometric analysis with VOSviewer suggested that only five African countries, including Ghana, have contributed to the research area with limited collaboration. As a result, it calls for stakeholders to make informed decisions to invest resources in research to address the challenge on the continent. The MESSAGE planning model is recommended for the study.