The Roadmap to Fusion: Science and International Cooperation for Sustainable Energy

The transition to non-fossil energy sources is gaining a rapidly increasing attention in the international agenda. The global disruptions caused by the pandemic and more recently by the Ukrainian crisis add to the growing concern about the consequences of climate changes. All situations that have highlighted how crucial energy is for sustainable development and for international relations, and the extreme vulnerability of a world still largely depending on fossil sources. In this framework research on nuclear fusion energy is attracting a growing interest. It is an extremely attractive potential source of electricity for a future CO2-free energy basket. It uses widely available fuel, does not produce high-level radioactive waste and its plants are inherently safe. For its practical applicability, high-level research is still required. As the science progresses and the realization of fusion comes closer, it also necessitates a debate about non-technical issues, including diverse social ...