nuclear-news

If political leaders around the world are serious about gender equality, they must also get serious about climate change.
In the run-up to December’s crucial Paris climate talks, some of the clearest calls for climate action are coming from familiar quarters: public health and environmental groups such as the World Health Organization, Doctors for Climate Action and No New Coal Mines.
But there is yet another compelling reason to reduce greenhouse gas emissions: the fact that the current climate inaction is costing women their livelihoods and their lives.
Skewed effects
The impacts of climate change are set to hit the world’s poorest countries far harder than the wealthy ones. And the bad news for women in those societies is that the effects are not gender-neutral.
While rich societies are better able to deal with the economic costs and health consequences of climate-driven events such as floods or heatwaves, poorer countries…

From Bankwatch.org:

“STOP UKRAINE’S ZOMBIE REACTORS

Right at Europe’s doorstep, Ukraine is extending the lifetimes of its soviet-era nuclear reactors – ignoring risks, neighbouring countries and international law. This is about nuclear safety in Europe. Find out what you can do.

THE PROBLEM

Ukraine operates 15 nuclear reactors from the Soviet era and is planning to extend their life by up to 20 years. This year it should decide about 2 reactors – unit 2 at the South Ukraine plant and unit 1 at Zaporizhia. The life-time extensions are done without a proper safety-review, environmental impact assessment and public consultations and without considering sustainable alternatives.

International law (codified in the Espoo convention) obligates Ukraine to consult neighbouring countries and their citizens on the lifetime extensions. Five neighbouring countries have requested information and involvement, but Ukraine’s government is still ignoring them.

The lifetime extensions are perpetuating Ukraine’s dependency on Russia:…

From Bankwatch.org:
“Ukrainian court backs state attempt to stifle public debate on ageing nuclear fleet

October 29, 2015

Kiev – Today a Kiev court ruled in favour of a defamation lawsuit brought by the Ukrainian state against a civil society organisation, thus backing the government’s attempts to suppress public debate on the country’s ageing nuclear fleet.

The state nuclear energy operator Energoatom brought the suit against CEE Bankwatch Network member the National Ecological Centre of Ukraine (NECU), alleging that NECU had published misleading information about safety standards at Unit 2 of the South Ukraine nuclear power plant.

The lawsuit referred to a press release from 15 May 2015 in which NECU reported on the state nuclear regulator’s decision to shut down the nuclear unit once it reached its design lifetime because the insufficient safety standards at the time did not allow the prolonged operation.

Don’t let Ukraine risk our…

Science and Technology:

¶ Fitch Ratings says utility-scale solar PV projects often outperform expectations. On average, projects assessed made 9% more electricity than projected. Factors include higher than expected solar irradiance and lower than expected grid curtailments. With limited downtimes, arrays were available over 98.5% of the time. [CleanTechnica]

Topaz Solar Farm, a 550-MW photovoltaic power station in San Luis Obispo County, California. Image by First Solar

¶ The UN released its assessment of national plans to limit climate change, submitted by 146 countries. Officials say the submissions, in their current form, won’t keep global temperatures from rising by more than the 2° C danger threshold. However the UN report says the plans are a major step and the 2° C goal is “within reach.” [BBC]

World:

¶ Green energy is benefiting from the downturn in the oil sector, with more cash available for investments and more skilled…

The Australian government and the subservient mainstream media have just kept mum for many months about South Australia and its rather disgusting Nuclear Fuel Chain  Royal Commission.

Now, suddenly, it’s all the rage with the Prime Minister,Liberal politicians, (and under
the cover – Labor, too) , and the new Chief Scientist Alan Finkel (who’s not even  a scientist anyway), and the media.

At the same time the government is trying to become co chair of the International Green Climate Fund.

There is  a connection.  At the December UN climate talks, the very powerful and well funded nuclear lobby wants to get nuclear power classed as a ‘low emission’ industry – qualifying for financial incentives and tax breaks.

Our government has been bought. Malcolm Turnbull or Julie Bishop will front up at the Paris Climate
Conference, assisting the nuclear industry to push its barrow. They might even be able to hold out the hope that…