The past week in nuclear/climate news

It’s hard to stay focussed on nuclear news, as the climate news really can’t be ignored. As always, non European, non anglophone, and poor countries are copping it most – Climate Change is Devastating India With Heat Waves and Water Shortages. But right now, much media focus is on the Northern hemisphere – new heat records being set across Europe, wildfires, heat records in Alaska.

Climate change problems, and effective remedies, are often ignored. Air-conditioning is both a partial remedy, but also a big cause of global warming. Energy efficiency is the single best answer to climate change, but often a neglected one.

On the nuclear theatre- well, it seems to be all theatre – with Donald Trump basking in the spotlight entering North Korea – no actual  negotiation achievement – but then the spotlight itself was the goal. More of a worry is the escaling tension and confusion over Iran, as it builds up enriched uranium, and Europe struggles to keep Iran in the nuclear agreement.

Urgent need for international diplomacy: the world facing a renewed nuclear arms race.

Bonn climate talks: Key outcomes from the June 2019 conference. Despite Donald Trump, the G20 nations (except USA) are sticking to the Paris climate agreement.

EUROPE. European Parliament excludes nuclear energy from EU’s green investment fund.

FRANCE. Nuclear reactors in France face temporary shutdown due to extreme heat.

USA.

• USA Security Adviser John Bolton denies report of ‘nuclear freeze’ agreement with North Korea. Report that Trump administration is considering accepting North Korea as a nuclear power. ‘Wonderful chemistry’ between Trump and Kim, as nuclear negotiations remain stalled.
• Trump says Iran ‘playing with fire’ after exceeding nuclear deal limit.  U.S. presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard spells out the danger of nuclear war.  Ranking Member of US Senate Armed Services Committee Reed: Trump should be Restricted from going to War with Iran.  US Senate Vote Prohibiting Funding for Military Action Against Iran without Prior Congressional Approval Fails with Needed 10 Senators AWOL.
• U.S. senators agonise over nuclear waste debacle, (but with no thought of stopping producing radioactive trash)- Radioactive materials found in Huntington 14 miles from the former Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant. Proposed nuclear storage consent bill excludes Yucca Mountain.  Washington State officials not happy about re-classification of nuclear waste. What really went wrong at Waste Isolation Pilot Project?
• In pro nuclear drive, U.S. Energy Dept pours money into universities.
• Renewables beat coal in the US for the first time ever.  Nuclear power, fossil fuels finished? Los Angeles launches world’s cheapest solar + battery-storage project.
• FirstEnergy Solutions banking on a nuclear bailout in Ohio.  Ohio nuclear bailout Bill: utilities and other big-ticket political players want favors. Ohio Lawmakers plan to prop up nuclear power, cut support to wind and solar projects.   Strong opinions at forum about producing nuclear weapon cores at the Savannah River Site.

IRAN. How Close Is Iran to a Nuclear Bomb, Really? No solution found to the nuclear issue, after European talks with Iran end.  Iran doesn’t want to leave the nuclear agreement, calls on Europe for trade help. HBO TV series ” Chernobyl” causing great interest in Iran.

UK.

• Radioactive contamination triggers evacuation at shuttered Dounreay nuclear site in Scotland.
• UK’s Nuclear Free Local Authorities (NFLA) alarmed at likely promotion of nuclear power in govt’s White Paper,
• UK’s Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) has concerns about the security of Sellafield’s plutonium. Gaps revealed in Scotland’s nuclear convoy crash preparations.  UK’s Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy reports solely on England’s responses [not Scotland’s, Wales’] re nuclear waste issues.
• Scottish renewable electricity hits record levels.

UKRAINE. Chernobyl military survivor reveals secrets.  Chernobyl survivors confirm the accuracy of the TV series, about nuclear radiation.

RUSSIA. Putin talks of Russia, USA , resuming negotiations on nuclear arms reduction treaty. Russia threatens military response to any NATO action over nuclear-ready missile. NATO says it will act unless Russia destroys nuclear-ready missile.  Russia’s nuclear power station for the Arctic– a floating Chernobyl? Doubts on the “usability” of Russia’s Submarines Armed with Nuclear Drone-Torpedoes.

INDIA. India’s nuclear power programme unlikely to progress. Ocean energy is a better way.  Anxiety over Belarus nuclear reactor starting up: Lithuania buys iodine tablets.

BELARUS. Belarus nuclear physicist warns on the unsafety of new nuclear plant.

TURKEY. Turkey’s President Erdoğan admits that Sinop nuclear power plant has been halted (too costly).

JAPAN. New research identifies Fukushima reactor material in the environment.  TEPCO ordered to compensate ex-plant worker.  Voices of Fukushima power plant disaster victims strengthens call to ban nuclear energy.

July 4, 2019 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes