press release
friends of the earth australia
8 September 2005
nuclear energy no solution to climate
change
CANBERRA (Australia), 8 September 2005 --
A coalition of environment and public heath
groups today released a report challenging
the argument– most recently put forward by
Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer
– that nuclear power is 'clean' and a
potential fix for climate change.
The report, 'Nuclear Energy: No Solution
to Climate Change' (online at
http://www.melbourne.foe.org.au/documents.htm
), was launched at Parliament House,
Canberra, by former Australian Ambassador to
South Korea and nuclear proliferation expert
Professor Richard Broinowski.
“If it sells uranium to India and China,
the Australian government will be flouting
two crucial conditions under which Australian
uranium exports have been subject: buyer
nations must be signatories to the
Non-Proliferation Treaty and they must allow
international inspection of their reactors,”
Prof Broinowski said. “India is not a
signatory to the NPT and China indicates it
won't allow inspections of its reactors. How
dangerously irresponsible can we get?”
While a few Federal Ministers – Downer,
Nelson and Macfarlane, the"Three Toxic
Tenors" – are singing the uranium industry's
song, a growing number of Australians are
cautioning the Government against deeper
involvement in the dangerous nuclear
chain.
Dr Jim Green, author of the report and
national nuclear campaigner for Friends of
the Earth said: "Nuclear power is no solution
to climate change. A doubling of global
nuclear power output by 2050 would reduce
greenhouse gas emissions by just 5% – less
than one tenth of the reduction
required."
"Nuclear plants are potential bomb
factories. Four or five countries have
developed arsenals of nuclear weapons using
their 'peaceful' nuclear facilities – India,
Israel, South Africa, Pakistan and possibly
North Korea. Nuclear power reactors have
produced enough plutonium to build 160,000
nuclear weapons," Dr Jim Green added.
Mark Wakeham from Greenpeace said: "This
report shows that energy efficiency measures
and renewable energy sources can deliver the
large reductions in greenhouse pollution
required without the dangers associated with
nuclear power. It's time to shift from
dangerous and dirty fuel sources – coal and
nuclear – to a clean energy future."
David Noonan from the Australian
Conservation Foundation said: "The real
nuclear agenda is to double Australia's
uranium exports. Our safeguards and
proliferation responsibilities look set to be
fatally compromised to suit BHP Billiton’s
expansion plans for Roxby Downs.”
The report has been produced by Friends of
the Earth, the Australian Conservation
Foundation, Greenpeace, the Medical
Association for the Prevention of War, the
Public Health Association of Australia and
Climate Action Network Australia. It is also
endorsed by the peak conservation groups in
the four states being targeted by the uranium
mining industry – the Environment Centre of
the NT, the Conservation Council of SA, the
Conservation Council of WA and the Queensland
Conservation Council.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT IN CANBERRA
(AUSTRALIA):
* Jim Green: Friends of the Earth national
nuclear campaigner, +61-417 318 368 or email
jim.green@foe.org.au or
jimgreen3@ozemail.com.au
* David Noonan: Australian Conservation
Foundation nuclear campaigner, +61-408 821
058
* Mark Wakeham: Greenpeace energy
campaigner, +61-409 542 753
* Prof Richard Broinowski is available for
media comment - contact Jim Green
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