Despite the fact that countries continue to increase nuclear energy production, my position is that new nuclear power plants should not continue to be constructed. Current use of nuclear power should be carefully evaluated as part of a plan to slowly reduce production across the world. The negative environmental and economic implications support my position. Nuclear power generation is not as safe and clean as some claim. The Oxford Research Group published a report providing evidence to support this point. It is clear that nuclear power plants do not produce much carbon dioxide when they operate, but it is the mining of uranium and storage of waste that produces carbon dioxide pollution. This way of generating electricity is not as environmentally friendly as was once thought. The report says that over time, more carbon dioxide will be produced because more equipment and energy will be needed to extract the uranium ore and store the waste. It is estimated that by 2070, uranium-based nuclear power would produce as much carbon dioxide as a gas-fired power plant. If the use of nuclear energy continues to increase, this number would also increase, having a significant impact on global warming and the environment (Herbst). There is additional evidence of the negative environmental impact of nuclear energy use. There is a risk of water contamination by radioactive materials from nuclear power plants. Material leaks have reportedly occurred at more than a dozen nuclear power plants in the United States. They have contaminated various water sources, including groundwater, rivers and streams (examiner.com). In 2011, when an earthquake occurred in Taiwan and generated a tsunami that hit a nuclear power plant...... middle of paper ....../More-bad-news-for- the-Pacific-Taiwanese-NPP-radioactive-water-leak.htmlConsulted: 11/20/13Moira, Herbst. New debate on the nuclear option. March 26, 2007. http://www.businessweek.com/stories/2007-03-26/new-debate-over-nuclear-optionbusinessweek-business-news-stock-market-and-financial-advice Accessed: 11/20 / 13NEA. Broad impacts of nuclear energy. November 9, 1993. http://www.oecd-org/brief/brief-09.html Accessed: 11/20/137 Reasons why nuclear energy is bad for the environment and the nation. December 11, 2009. http://www.examinar.com/article/ Accessed: 11/20/13Three Mile Island accident. March 2001. http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/Safety-of-Plants/Three-Mile-Island-accident/ Accessed: 11/20/13 Nuclear waste http://library.thinkquest.org/ 3471 /radiation_effects_body.html Accessed: 11/21/13