The Other side…

THE nuclear industry is trying to re-package itself as a solution to the global warming crisis. In fact, for the reasons given below, expanding nuclear power would under-mine the real solutions to global warming. Uranium mining in the territory has a toxic record, e.g. Rum Jungle and Ranger, and no new mines should be opened to fuel the dirty and dangerous nuclear industry.

TOO SLOW
The world’ existing 440 nuclear reactors produce less than 5 per cent of total world energy. To have any significant impact on global greenhouse gas emissions, literally hundreds of new reactors would have to be built. Even if this were possible it would take decades to build so many reactors by which time global warming would be uncontrollable. Doubling nuclear power by 2050 would only cut greenhouse emissions by 5 per cent when scientists say cuts of about 60 per cent are needed.

TOO EXPENSIVE
Reactors typically cost several billion dollars each to build. To build hundreds of reactors would cost hundreds of billions of dollars – money that would be better spent on safer, more effective and sustainable energy strategies.

TOO INEFFECTIVE
Improving energy efficiency delivers seven times greater reductions in greenhouse emission per dollar spent compared to nuclear power. Worldwide there is enormous scope for reducing energy use and waste, and hence greenhouse gas emissions. This can be done immediately, at relatively low cost, and without expensive and dirty nuclear reactors.

TOO DIRTY
Nuclear reactors have so far produced a global pile of 240,000 tonnes of high-level radioactive waste for which there is no safe long-term storage solution. A new report from the IAEA says just to manage existing radioactive waste in the UK, China, Russia and the US will cost one trillion US dollars. The nuclear industry also produces large amounts of greenhouse gasses during mining, processing and reactor construction and dismantling.

TOO DESTRUCTIVE
Globally, every aspect of the nuclear industry – from uranium mining to reactors, waste management to nuclear weapons – has proved to be destructive of the environment, communities and democratic processes. Secrecy, cover-ups and massive subsidies underpin the global nuclear industry.

TOO DANGEROUS
At least 20 countries are known to have used their “peaceful” nuclear facilities for weapons research or production or both. The planet is now awash with nuclear weapons and missing nuclear material, increasing the likelihood of some form of nuclear attack.

We need to reverse global warming but focusing on nuclear distracts attention and resources away from the most effective, timely, safe and affordable solutions, namely: (1) dramatic and achievable improvements in energy efficiency and demand management; (2) increase investment in renewable energy especially solar and wind; (3) use of gas as a “bridging fuel” where necessary and (4) including the cost of global warming in the price of fossil fuels through carbon tax.

• Peter Robertson
• NT Environment Centre