Nuclear Waste
Cumbria last week took the first steps towards volunteering to be the site of Britain’s first underground nuclear dump, in return for a hefty government “bribe”. Its county council decided on Thursday to start talks about the implications of the deal with two local borough councils: Copeland, which has already made an “expression of interest” in hosting the dump, and Allerdale, which is expected to follow suit.
Independent on Sunday 29th June 2008 more >>
Dalgety Bay
THE struggle to defeat Hitler took place almost 70 years ago but it has left one Scottish community with a disturbing legacy that could last for centuries. The gardens of six homes in a coastal community have been partially dug up and removed by the Ministry of Defence after traces of radioactive contamination were found. Hazardous particles of radium-226 from a wartime airbase were identified near homes in Dalgety Bay, Fife, by officials working for the Defence Estates organisation.
Scotland on Sunday 29th June 2008 more >>
The Economy
Almost unnoticed, something momentous has happened. It could even turn out to be the most hopeful development for both the economy and the environment in a generation, and set Britain on track for a new industrial revolution, powered by clean energy. Over the past two weeks the Prime Minister, his predecessor and the Leader of the Opposition have all insisted that any future growth must be green – as have world business leaders. Indeed Gordon Brown and David Cameron have gone further, making it clear that otherwise there may well be no growth at all. This is not what is supposed to happen at this ominous stage of the economic cycle. For months the commentariat have been telling us that green concerns will inevitably slip down the agenda as times get tough. But there has been an unexpected, if overdue, paradigm shift: the environment and the economy are now recognised to be interdependent. Most media coverage of the new strategy concentrated on possible increases in fuel bills. But Downing Street has largely shrugged it off on a rare high at having for once initiated something new and important. And who knows? If it happens, and starts a trend of creating real change, it might breathe new life not just into the economy and the environment, but into the increasingly moribund Brown premiership itself.
Independent on Sunday 29th June 2008 more >>
Climate
Tony Blair: The vast majority of new power stations in China and India will be coal-fired. So developing carbon capture and storage technology is not optional; it is of the essence. Without at least some countries engaging in a substantial renaissance of nuclear power, it is hard to see how any global deal could work. For developing countries to grow, they will need funds and technology; otherwise they will not be able to reduce emissions within the necessary time.
Sunday Times 29th June 2008 more >>
Alternatives
Glasgow’s ambitious plans include a new city-wide district heating scheme, more energy-efficient homes, light rail transport and a “state of the art” telecommunications network. These will all, it is hoped, cut the pollution that is warming the globe. A group will investigate the possibility of piping hot water to homes, offices and public buildings across Glasgow as well as how to develop “low-carbon public transport”. It will be co-ordinated by Professor Jim McDonald, deputy principal of the University of Strathclyde. “There are tremendous opportunities for Glasgow in the development of low-carbon energy technologies, efficient homes and the creation of sustainable communities and transport. All of this could help to make Glasgow the most sustainable city in Europe,” he said. “The study will present some ambitious, but achievable, goals which could help to improve Glasgow’s environment as well as provide jobs and develop the city’s clean-energy sector. We hope this feasibility study will be the first step towards making those changes a reality.”
Sunday Herald 29th June 2008 more >>
North Korea
US SECRETARY of State Condoleezza Rice yesterday called on North Korea to fulfil its obligations and accused the secretive state of not answering US suspicions that it is enriching uranium and proliferating technology when it released an inventory of its nuclear plans last week.
Scotland on Sunday 29th June 2008 more >>
BBC 28th June 2008 more >>
Vice President Dick Cheney fought furiously to block efforts by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to strike a controversial US compromise deal with North Korea over the communist state’s nuclear programme.
Telegraph 28th June 2008 more >>
Iran
Iran has moved ballistic missiles into launch positions, with Israel’s Dimona nuclear plant among the possible targets, defence sources said last week.
Sunday Times 29th June 2008 more >>
Coal
Fresh doubts have been raised over plans for new coal-fired power plants after the environment regulator said it expects that those not fitted with expensive carbon capture and storage (CCS) equipment in future will have to close. The government’s leading environment adviser, Jonathon Porritt, has also attacked the plan to build up to eight new coal plants, warning they could ‘destroy the overall credibility of the government’s Climate Change Programme’. In a statement to The Observer, the Environment Agency said that any coal plants built before CCS was available ‘cannot undermine future carbon budgets and targets’. It added: ‘This is likely to mean that the station is forced to fit CCS in the future or close.’ The agency does not specify when companies would have to fit the equipment, but a spokesman said it would have to be ‘technically proven’, and that forecasts for this range from 2020 to 2030.
Observer 29th June 2008 more >>
