Climate and nuclear news to 14 January

Christina Macpherson’s websites & blogs

A week away from Donald Trump taking over the USA Presidency, and it’s anybody’s guess as to how bad the repercussions of that will be, for climate action, nuclear safety, and the public good. If there happen to be some accidental unintended benefits for they public good, I doubt that these will compensate for the world’s most powerful nation being run by the lead bully boy for corporate America. Barack Obama retires graciously, claiming that “we did”. Perhaps more accurately “we tried”.

Don’t for one minute think that nuclear power is in any way “green“.

Record loss of sea ice in 2016-both Arctic and Antarctic.

Alexei Yablokov, grandfather of Russian environmentalism, dies at 83

CLIMATE NOAA– Atmospheric CO2 Increased by 2.77 Parts Per Million During 2016. Copernicus organisation says 2016 ‘hottest on record’ in new sign of global warming. Greenland Ice Melt might cause Atlantic Circulation to Collapse.

ENERGY Bleak future for nuclear revival, with solar and wind costs continuing to fall. Rapid rise in Global Photovoltaic Installation Market is predicted by Transparency Market Research.

USA.

USA’s EPA ( Nuclear Industry Protection Agency) confirms dramatic increase in radiation will be permitted in drinking water
USA nominee for secretary of defense disagrees with Donald Trump on nuclear weapons. US Secretary of State nominee Rex Tillerson disagrees with Donald Trump on nuclear weapons.
The F-35 may destabilize relations between the world’s two greatest nuclear powers — Russia and the US.
Background to shutdown of Indian Point nuclear power plant. New York’s renewable energy sector is poised to take over from Indian Point nuclear power station New York nuclear subsidies an ‘existential threat’ to wholesale markets -Electric Power Supply Association.
17 USA nuclear reactors listed as having possibly flawed parts from AREVA’s Le Creusot forge. Former nuclear town degenerates into a stranded nuclear waste dump .
Judge rules that Exxon Mobil Corp must hand over climate documents to Massachusetts.
US Global Change Research Program recommends research into geoengineering for climate change action.
100 % renewable energy by 2050 – pledges General Motors. T
Tesla starts mass production of solar battery cells.

CANADA. Canada’s government releases carbon pricing plan

UKRAINE. Giant solar farm to be built on Ukraine’s land contaminated by Chernobyl radiation.

NETHERLANDS. Trains 100% wind powered for Netherlands, by 2018.

FRANCE. France’s desperate move to save nuclear company AREVA.

RUSSIA. Alexei Yablokov, Russia’s environmental conscience, dies at 83 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uo2cyS1YUqo

UK. China to build ANOTHER nuclear reactor in Britain – concern for nuclear regulator. Wales introduces solar ‘eco hamlet‘ – the first of many?

CHINA. China’s $493 billion plan for renewable energy.

TAIWAN. Taiwan will end nuclear power generation by 2025.

JAPAN. ‘Monju was not worth dying for’ – says wife of top nuclear official, who suicided. Toshiba’s $billions loss raise questions about costs for new nuclear power. Coral bleaching kills 70 percent of Japan’s biggest coral reef. Japanese Government hides contamination from Fukushima nuclear disaster while sending evacuees home .

NORTH KOREA. North Korea’s greatly increased plutonium stockpile