Radioactivity is dramatic. You can’t smell it, taste it, or see it. You may be powerless to avoid it. Nuclear history is a story of dramatic contrasts, of hope and tragedy.
Worldwide excitement over Marie…
The roots of Germany’s anti-nuclear stance go back many decades, and are stronger than ever today.
Memkaos/Flickr
By Erik Gawel, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research and Sebastian Strunz, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research
When the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan was hit by a tsunami in March 2011, the disaster had a profound effect on German energy policy. Chancellor Angela Merkel reasoned that “Fukushima…
Speedy and decisive action is needed from the government to ensure our future energy security.
Flickr/Cayusa
Our nuclear reactors have reached the end of their lives, North Sea oil is running out, coal is dirty: Britain faces an energy crisis of rising demand and falling supply. In our Nuclear Futures series…
Environmentalism attacked nuclear power, which may have damaged long-term sustainability goals.
Olivier Hoslet
After clear warnings from scientists more than 20 years ago, the issues of human-caused climate change and fossil-fuel-dominated energy should be on the way into the environmental history books. Sadly…
Excluding nuclear from Australia’s future energy scenarios doesn’t give the full picture.
Gold Auraque
The Energy White Paper 2012 (EWP2012), released by the Australian Government last week, seeks to map out a strategic policy framework for future energy supply. One of the major goals of EWP2012 is to provide…
Several countries have backed away from nuclear power following the Fukushima disaster in Japan.
http://www.theenvironmentalblog.org/, http://www.flickr.com/photos/environmentblog
Market-distorting fossil fuel subsidies rose 30% from 2010 to 2011, stymying efforts to boost the renewables sector and reduce greenhouse emissions worldwide, a new global report has found.
The 2012 World…
In the aftermath of the world’s worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl, Japan is phasing out nuclear power.
EPA/Julien Warnand
On 14 September 2012, the Japanese Government considered a new policy that excited many self-proclaimed environmentalists and anti-nuclear power protestors. Following intense political wrangling, they…
No such thing as a free lunch: nuclear power can do what many renewable energy systems have not yet done on a large scale – deliver.
Flickr/Gretchen Mahan
To paraphrase George Orwell: “All electricity is created equal, but some of its generating technologies are more equal than others”. This is a crucial point – emphasised but typically overlooked – in the…
Despite a purported commitment to renewables, France’s new President will likely be outmaneuvered by the country’s nuclear industry.
AAP
The recent meeting of European Energy Ministers has exposed a Germany-France rift on the role of nuclear power. Post-Fukushima, Germany is investing heavily in solar power; so is Italy. But a French spokesperson…
Protesters in Seoul are right to be sceptical about the prospect of nuclear security.
EPA/Jeon Heon-Kyun
It could all be a fanciful face lift, a matter of pure appearance.
Behind the pretty face of a regulated nuclear world, the somewhat more lethal effects of meltdown and its associated dangers are concealed…
We should be investigating all options if we’re serious about reducing emissions.
saturdave/Flickr
Australia aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 5% by 2020 and 80% by 2050 (compared with 2000 levels). This will be achieved by substituting renewable energy and gas for coal and adopting carbon capture…
President Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meet at the White House in early March, 2012.
EPA/Martin H Simon
A key facet of America’s extended, depressing election campaigns is that every serious presidential candidate has to prove their fanatical, unswerving devotion to the Israeli government.
As part of this…
Iran is constructing nuclear power stations; that much is clear.
AAP
There is much concern that Iran is in the process of developing nuclear weapons. Such a development, we’re told, could induce Israel to launch a unilateral military strike with all types of unpredictable…
The aftermath of a bombing in Tehran that killed a nuclear scientist.
EPA/STR
Relations between Iran and the United States and its ally Israel have descended into the worst crisis in years. Concern is growing that the situation could quickly degenerate into conflict.
The origins…
Japan has lost its taste for nuclear, which means higher emissions and less energy security.
AAP
Recently, Jenny Corbett, Executive Director of the Australia-Japan Research School at ANU, sat down with Tatsuo Hatta, Professor Emeritus at Osaka University and a former President of the Japanese Economic…
There’s no shortage of hype around thorium, but how justified is the excitement?
AzureGrackel
You have probably heard at least a little about thorium. There are certainly advocates out there who strongly believe it could help solve the world’s energy problems.
The idea is that thorium-based nuclear…
The Federal Government’s draft energy white paper outlines a future where Australia still depends on fossil fuels.
AAP
The release of Australia’s draft energy white paper has outlined a future where Australia continues to be largely dependent on fossil fuels, embraces uranium and expands existing deregulation and privatisation…
India’s power needs are growing at a staggering rate and coal won’t do the job.
NASA
As the Australian Labor Party changes its stance on trading uranium with India, a pertinent question arises: why is India so keen to buy this controversial fuel? And what do India’s energy resources look…
The world is searching for a “holy grail”: zero-carbon electricity provided safely and reliably, 24 hours a day, in any given location and in quantities that matter for a world that is heading for 10 billion…
India has ambitious plans to expand nuclear power.
Truthout.org
Earlier this week, the Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard indicated she wants to reverse the ban on selling uranium to India. India’s government has welcomed the idea. Australia has close to 40% of…
Exporting uranium carries a risk not just in Australia, but all over the world.
Mad House Photography
The South Australian and Federal governments have approved another expansion at Olympic Dam. This expansion raises some very important questions about Australia’s role in the future of global energy and…
Solar is now a viable industry that should be taken seriously.
AFP Photo/Sakis Mitrolidis
A solar energy revolution is brewing that will put the coal and nuclear industries out of business. Solar is already reaching price parity with coal in many parts of Australia. In contrast to coal and…
Thorium won’t help us surmount all the concerns about nuclear power.
HeyRocker/flickr
As the world grapples with the competing imperatives of the tragic fallout from the Fukushima meltdown, and the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, some are turning to new forms of nuclear…
The move away from nuclear energy may be counterproductive.
Greenpeace Finland
It won’t surprise many people that world carbon emissions have failed to slow down, but the fact we’re now at risk of surpassing targets set for nine years hence, intended to limit the global rise in temperature…
Does a level 7 mean Fukushima is as bad as Chernobyl?
Flickr/exquisitur
The Fukushima incident has been upgraded to an INES Level 7 of severity. The Australian Science Media Centre asked three experts what this means.
Dr Pradip Deb is a Senior Lecturer in Medical Radiations…
An accident in a nuclear station is much more worrying than an accident at a wind turbine.
Flickr/Jaako
Before the Fukushima reactor was swamped by a tsunami, there had been a wave of enthusiasm for nuclear power. The problems in Japan have probably ended the risk of Australia going down the nuclear path…
Newer reactors are ten times as safe as the Fukushima power plant.
AAP
Does the design and construction employed at Fukushima really represent the best that can be done in nuclear power?
Is it inevitable that a nuclear power plant will be overwhelmed by a magnitude nine…
Is the nuclear industry facing unfair criticism?
AFP Photo/Don Emmert
Japan relies on nuclear power for about 30% of its electricity. It has few natural resources and imports large quantities of coal, gas and oil at an ever increasing cost. Some Japanese people are not in…
Nuclear safety comes at a price that may make the industry unviable.
AAP
While the Japanese earthquake aftershocks will stop in a few months time, allowing Japan to recover, the shocks may prove terminal for the green nuclear renaissance.
In the week since Japan was rocked…
