Nuclear for Australia has expressed disappointment that Adelaide will not host COP31, representing a missed opportunity to elevate science-based conversations about how to achieve a clean energy future in Australia.
Nuclear for Australia Founder Will Shackel said hosting COP31 would have brought together world leaders and industry experts on the ground to have serious conversations and strategic thinking about climate action.
“It’s interesting that Turkey is currently building its first nuclear power plant which is expected to come online next year, demonstrating closer alignment with the global consensus that nuclear is key to a clean energy future,” Mr Shackel said.
“Since COP28, we have seen 31 countries sign up to a declaration to triple global nuclear energy capacity by 2050, recognising the essential role of nuclear power in addressing decarbonisation without cost or reliability issues.
“This pledge is also backed by 14 major global banks and financial institutions, 140 nuclear industry companies, and a coalition of large energy users, including Amazon, Meta, Google and others.
“I hope that Minister Chris Bowen and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese go to COP31 in Turkey and see how these advanced reactors can be safely established and make a real impact on decarbonisation.
“If Australia wants to be taken seriously on the global stage, then we must lift legislative bans on nuclear energy and have all options on the table.
“Having global industry experts in Adelaide would have been a fantastic opportunity to advocate for the important role nuclear could play in our future energy mix,” Mr Shackel said.
New YouGov research into Australia’s attitudes towards nuclear power found that just one third of Australians (34%) currently oppose building nuclear power plants for electricity, with 47% already for it and 19% unsure either way.
Mr Shackel said that global emissions reduction commitments will never be met if we don’t consider howcleaner, cheaper and reliable baseload nuclear energy can work in tandem with renewables.
“Both major political parties in Australia are committed to relying on fossil fuel emitting technologies to back up renewable energy, and that’s not good enough – it’s a COP-out,” Mr Shackel continued.
“Their hypothetical future is the reality of the future for me and everyone else my age, which is why we need to switch from coal and gas to nuclear.
“We should be opening the door to a civilian nuclear power industry that allows us to pursue renewables and emerging industries without reliability or cost issues, while expanding Australia’s role in global decarbonisation efforts.
“With countries such as Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines all opening the doors to consider nuclear, Australia should be doing the same.
“The Australian public is open to considering this discussion, and we need to lift the bans to ensure we can fully explore the potential nuclear energy holds for Australia as a clean energy source.
“Global energy usage is rising rapidly and reliable baseload energy powered by nuclear will deliver far better outcomes for the world than a continued reliance on fossil fuels.”
Media Contact Details
Email: [email protected]