Climate/nuclear news this week

This is a bit more boring than usual, as, apart from the Australian bushfires, not many climate and nuclear events have been in the news this week.

A new book brings the nuclear and climate threats together in a scary warning. In The Plutocene: Blueprints for a post-Anthropocene Greenhouse Earth, Andrew Glikson considers a future scenario where nuclear war, radioactive pollution, and global heating combine to produce a new era. He urges a range of tactics to avert this gloomy future.

S and P Global Ratings has made it plain: nuclear power can survive only with massive tax-payer support.

A bit of good news –  Ocean Cleanup Makes History by Successfully Collecting First Plastic From Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

AUSTRALIA

CLIMATE.

• A cauldron of extreme heat developing in Western Australia is heading straight for the east coast bushfire zone. Meterologist shocked at prospect of Australia’s coming summer of heat and drought.  The 2009 CSIRO Warning regarding the Increasing risk of Bushfire in Australia. Fire chief says Australia fires could be out of control for months. 23 fire and emergency services leaders from across Australia demand government action on climate change.
• Scientists refute Barnaby Joyce’s claim that sun’s magnetic fields cause bushfires.  A twisted and so-called religious view of bushfires and climate change.
• Coal lobby wields power over Australian govt, like the National Rifle Association does in USA.  Australia’s energy market was quietly tipped back in favour of coal generators.  Scott Morrison shuns Torres Strait Islanders worried about climate change. Australia may seek forgiveness, rather than permission, for Kyoto carryover.
• Sweden dumps Australian bonds over “large climate footprint”. IEA tells Australia it’s on wrong track on climate, more wind and solar needed.

NUCLEAR.

Federal Govt to decide on new radioactive waste storage facility next year.    Flood risk at proposed nuclear dump site at Wallerberdina.  Open letter from Japan, to nuclear waste site candidates.  With 40% opposed to Kimba nuclear waste dump, is this “consensus”.  A duplicitous letter from Sam Chard, General Manager, Radioactive Waste Taskforce.

Australian Government report states that Lucas Heights spent nuclear fuel rods (for Kimba dump?) are High Level Wastes.

Rio Tinto drives ERA rehabilitation of Ranger uranium mine.

From Ziggy Switkowski – a new load of nuclear codswallop.

RENEWABLE ENERGY. ACT introduces first electric bus on path to zero transport emissions . Rooftop solar hits 45% of demand and sets new grid low in W.A. Rooftop solar delivers yet another record low in grid demand for South Australia. Renewables sector slams new network pricing proposals, says it will kill investment.

INTERNATIONAL

Climate change is a health emergency – physicians.

World Nuclear Waste Report.   Dangerous radioactive hot particles span the globe.    Still no country for old nuclear waste. Tritium and other radionuclides are hazardous,even in transport and storage.

Will Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) submarines make nuclear submarines relatively obsolete?

400,000 insect species face extinction.

ICELAND. In framing Julian Assange, The FBI tried to make Iceland complicit.

MARSHALL ISLANDS. U.S. won’t clean up Marshall Islands nuclear waste dome but wants it free of anti-U.S. graffiti.  Nuclear tomb: The Runit Dome is chipping and cracking. The climate crisis https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a29760935/marshall-islands-nuclear-waste-climate-change/is tied up in the dangers of nuclear weapons in ways that nobody predicted

UK. Jeremy Corbyn could scrap UK’s nuclear weapons, in deal with Scottish National Party. A UK Labour govt would make ‘collective’ decision over use of nuclear weapons? Boris Johnson and the unlikely future for small nuclear reactors.  Likely delay in clean-up of radioactive contamination at Dalgety Beach. New type of uranium nuclear fuel has safety risks.

USA.

• 49 USA universities get lots of money for helping to develop nuclear weapons. The United States’ Nuclear and Non-Nuclear Weapons Are Dangerously Entangled.  A long-term continuing resolution -damaging to America’s nuclear weapons development.
• Jared Kushner’s, Donald Trump’s secretive meetings with Saudi Arabia, Putin, Kim Jong Un.
•  Trump picks Dan Brouillette, another lackey of the coal and nuclear industries as US Energy Secretary. Before he’s even in the job, USA’s new Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette is busily promoting SMRs for his REAL bosses, the nuclear industry. Messianic Rick Perry preaches nuclear to sceptical Europeans.
• Indigenous opposition grows against proposal for grand nuclear waste dump in New Mexico.
• Georgia Power and the ballooning costs of Nuclear Plant Vogtle.  NRC likely to extend licence for Westinghouse nuclear fuel factory, despite its history of spills and leaks.

JAPAN. Fukushima: Japan’s government has not solved its many technical, economic, and socio-political problems. The plight of Fukushima nuclear workers getting leukaemia.  As Fukushima food export barriers fall, Japan aims to persuade China.  Pope Francis, visiting Hiroshima and Nagasaki, wants a total ban on nuclear weapons.

NORTH KOREA. North Korea issues warning on nuclear negotiations deadline. US- North Korea negotiations may be revived.

EUROPE. European Union struggles to preserve Iran nuclear deal.

CHINA. China General Nuclear Power Group to invest $2.5 billion into a huge solar project – plus 2 GW of wind turbines.

BULGARIA. Bulgaria nuclear reactor capacity reduced over generator malfunction.

RUSSIA. Nuclear-Powered Aircraft failed for both USA and Soviets.

AFRICA. The push for nuclear power in Africa, but what happens to the wastes? Africa has fourfold growth potential with renewable energy plan.

FRANCE. France extends nuclear reactors outage after earthquake. France considering building 6 new EDF nuclear reactors at a cost of at least 46 billion euros ($51 billion).