A U.S.Court of Appeals has ruled against an appeal by environmental groups Beyond Nuclear and the Sierra Club, allowing the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to proceed with licensing nuclear power plants without considering the impacts of climate extremes.

The decision, made on July 21, 2026, permits the NRC to extend reactor licenses up to 60, 80, or even 100 years without factoring in worsening climate conditions such as extreme flooding, wildfires, and rising sea levels.Critics argue this undermines public safety, as aging plants face heightened risks from climate-driven disasters.The petition, which challenged the NRC’s failure to assess climate risks on reactor safety, was dismissed by a unanimous panel of judges.

Legal experts and environmental advocates condemned the ruling, warning that relying on outdated safety standards ignores the reality of climate change.They highlighted cases like Texas floods, Canadian wildfires, and New York City tornado warnings as evidence of escalating threats.The decision allows the NRC to claim its risk analyses already account for future conditions, despite lacking concrete evidence.

Groups like Beyond Nuclear plan to continue legal challenges, targeting plants like Oconee (SC), Peach Bottom (PA), and North Anna (VA), which face specific vulnerabilities.

The ruling has sparked concerns about regulatory complacency and the potential for catastrophic accidents if climate risks are not properly addressed.