‘Disappointing’: Australia not ‘coming to the table’ with nuclear pledge at COP28

‘Disappointing’: Australia not ‘coming to the table’ with nuclear pledge at COP28

4 minutes ago

Nuclear for Australia founder William Shackel says it is “disappointing” the Australian delegation is not “coming to the table” as more than 20 nations at COP28 sign a pledge to triple nuclear power generation by 2050.

The declaration was signed by 22 countries on Saturday, with US climate envoy John Kerry saying the world cannot achieve net zero emissions without building new reactors.

Global nuclear capacity stands at 370 gigawatts, with 31 countries running reactors.

“We’re really sitting on the sidelines when it comes to nuclear energy at this year’s COP and I think that is really disappointing,” Mr Shackel told Sky News Australia.

“I hope that when the Minister turns up next week and when there’s some more action from the Australian delegation, if they want to be taken seriously on climate action, then they need to consider the role of nuclear energy.

“If you want to be taken seriously on climate change, especially when Australia is not on track to reach our emissions targets, we need to look at other options and, for me, that has to include nuclear energy.”