actual photo of @sussanley just now successfully urging the world heritage committee *not* to list the #GreatBarrierReef as “in danger”.
😞
(our gov’t made more calls to stop recognition of the reef’s perilous state than it did to secure covid vaccines.) #auspol
the committee did recognise:
• the long-term outlook has deteriorated from ‘poor’ to ‘very poor’
• progress to date has been insufficient
• climate change remains the most serious threat
…and…
…australia is required submit a report next february, to be considered at the 45th meeting of the committee in russia this time next year.
hopefully our _next_ minister for the environment will urge the world to save the reef.
so, @sussanley has successfully ensured that the inevitable recognition of the #GreatBarrierReef’s condition has been delayed until *after* the federal election.
australians🇦🇺: you're going to hear lots about ontario🇨🇦, which does have a very clean grid and cheap retail power.
but you should know 🧵
1. average age of ontario's nuclear fleet is 40 years. all government owned, but ~half privately operated.
2. the current nuclear price (as determined by the ontario energy board) from this old fleet is CAD 10.1¢/kWh which is the same as A$113/MWh.
ontario's proposed new nuclear power stations will cost much more…oeb.ca/sites/default/…
3a. a 2018 canadian gov't + industry report estimated cost of power from SMRs would have a mid-point of CAD$163/MWh, or CAD$215/MWh with a 3% cost overrun.
⚛️ why #nuclear power is a distraction for australia
if implemented, the #coalition's plan would see:
• increased gas & coal usage
• increased cost
• increased emissions
• higher chance of blackouts
read on to find out why… 🧵
firstly, let me say i have a deep interest in nuclear.
i've visited multiple nuclear plants, met with companies planning to build SMRs and nuclear VCs, taken a nuclear course at @MIT and closely watched the sector for years.
i encourage the use of nuclear where it makes sense.
some context: nuclear has had a long history of nothing in australia, including the start of construction in jervis bay (promptly cancelled by a liberal PM) and a federal ban (under a liberal PM).
important to note there are also state bans, including in NSW, VIC & QLD.