The nuclear energy industry of the USSR was never given adequate attention in matters of safety and energy efficiency. The result has been decades of mishandled radioactive waste, dangerous emissions and nuclear meltdowns. Western and former Soviet organizations, corporations, and governments have not paid enough attention to the long-term effects of badly implemented nuclear policy in the former USSR. Safer, cheaper, and more energy-efficient alternatives to nuclear power exist in both the short and long term. The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) should seek to combine the three goals of safety, cost-effectiveness and energy efficiency into an advanced, sound approach to energy policy and environmental awareness.