Climate change threatens Europe's nuclear power expansion plans

Europe's nuclear power expansion plans are threatened by climate change, as summer heatwaves and drought reduced river levels to historic lows, cutting off cooling water for reactors. This forced shutdowns and output cuts across the continent. Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, France, and Switzerland all faced reactor closures or reduced production due to water shortages or high river temperatures. Experts warn such disruptions will become more frequent as Europe warms faster than other regions. Governments are adapting by investing in resilience measures, such as France's EDF spending €4.3 billion on climate adjustments, and considering water availability when siting future reactors.