The week in climate/nuclear news Australia

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.

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