<
https://theconversation.com/friendly-fire-a-nuclear-push-by-allies-at-cop29-poses-a-sticky-problem-for-albanese-244153>
"Prime Minister Anthony Albanese didn’t see this coming. At the global COP29
climate talks in Baku, the Australian government was indirectly criticised by
two allies, the United States and the United Kingdom, over its refusal to sign
onto the goal of tripling nuclear power globally by 2050.
The UK’s original press release said Australia was “expected” to sign on to the
nuclear push, under the umbrella of a long-running nuclear research pact known
as the Gen IV Forum. Australia signed up to this pact in 2016, under a previous
government, and in 2021 signed onto the AUKUS security pact to procure nuclear
submarines from the US. This is perhaps why UK leaders assumed Australia would
back the broader push to promote nuclear power around the world.
Not so. While Australia has signed up for nuclear submarines, it has not made
any effort to adopt nuclear power. But nuclear power is shaping up as a major
election issue, with the Coalition pushing for Australia to go nuclear and
Labor pointing out the improbable economics of nuclear in a country rich in sun
and wind.
“As Australia does not have a nuclear energy industry, and nuclear power [is]
illegal domestically, we will not be signing up to this agreement,” a
government spokesperson said."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
