Nuclear energy and carbon emissions: Dynamic ARDL simulation evidence from France (1970–2023)
Keywords:
Nuclear energy consumption, Greenhouse gas emissions, Dynamic ARDL Simulation, Renewable energy, Environmental sustainabilityAbstract
This study investigates the dynamics of the relationship between nuclear energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in France over the period 1970–2023, employing the Dynamic ARDL Simulation framework. Based on 4,000 simulations distributed across 20 experiments and 10 time horizons, the results reveal the presence of asymmetric effects: while positive shocks of 0.25 and 0.5 standard deviations contribute to a reduction in emissions, negative shocks of the same magnitude lead to an increase. These findings confirm that integrating nuclear energy into the French energy mix represents an effective tool for reducing carbon emissions, while also highlighting the need to strike a balance between strengthening nuclear energy and expanding investments in renewable sources to ensure energy security and achieve long-term environmental sustainability goals.
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