Michele Kearney's Nuclear Wire - Major Energy and Environmental News and Commentary affecting the Nuclear Industry. Nuclear Activities
Saturday, December 2, 2023
Enviros file another federal Diablo Canyon lawsuit - ExchangeMonitor | Page 1
Enviros file another federal Diablo Canyon lawsuit - ExchangeMonitor | Page 1: ExchangeMonitor covers nuclear weapons, waste management, nuclear cleanup, international intelligence as well as carbon capture and storage.
Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards Endorses Alternative Option for Licensing Microreactors – Up & Atom
Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards Endorses Alternative Option for Licensing Microreactors – Up & Atom: The Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS) recently endorsed the NRC Staff’s proposed alternative option for licensing microreactors in a letter submitted to NRC Chairman Christopher Hanson. In brief, the licensing option endorsed by ACRS would allow a factory-fabricated microreactor to be loaded with fuel having features to preclude criticality and undergo operational testing at the factory before being transported to an installation site. If approved by the Commission, such an approach would create a lower regulatory burden commensurate with the anticipated decreased potential safety hazards posed by microreactors.
COP28: Nations Commit to Tripling Nuclear Energy | Neutron Bytes
COP28: Nations Commit to Tripling Nuclear Energy | Neutron Bytes: Ministerial declaration puts nuclear at heart of climate action Speaking at COP28 Sama Bilbao y León, Director General of the World Nuclear Association, said the significance of the declaration cou…
FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration Leverages Historic U.S. Climate Leadership at Home and Abroad to Urge Countries to Accelerate Global Climate Action at U.N. Climate Conference (COP28) | The White House
FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration Leverages Historic U.S. Climate Leadership at Home and Abroad to Urge Countries to Accelerate Global Climate Action at U.N. Climate Conference (COP28) | The White House: Since day one, President Biden, Vice President Harris, and the entire Biden-Harris Administration have treated climate change as the existential threat of our time. After spearheading the most significant climate action in history at home and leading efforts to tackle the climate crisis abroad, the United States heads into the 28th U.N. Climate Change Conference…
Ultra Safe Nuclear Inks Advanced Fuel Deal with Framatome | Neutron Bytes
Ultra Safe Nuclear Inks Advanced Fuel Deal with Framatome | Neutron Bytes: Ultra Safe Nuclear Inks Advanced Fuel Deal with Framatome OPG Inks Deals for SMR Fuels DOE Issues RFP for HALEU Fuel via Deconversion No US Equity Investments for Poland’s Reactor Program EDF…
COP28: White House Announces Nuclear Energy Initiatives | Neutron Bytes
COP28: White House Announces Nuclear Energy Initiatives | Neutron Bytes: At COP28, the United States announced three new initiatives as part of its leadership in efforts to accelerate nuclear energy capacity:1. Advancing a Secure Nuclear Fuel Supply Chain – Building on …
Friday, December 1, 2023
China is building nuclear reactors faster than any other country
China is building nuclear reactors faster than any other country: Can its scientists solve the fusion problem? | China
IAEA at COP28: The Role of Nuclear Technology in Climate Change Monitoring, Mitigation and Adaptation | IAEA
IAEA at COP28: The Role of Nuclear Technology in Climate Change Monitoring, Mitigation and Adaptation | IAEA: As world leaders convene at this year's COP28, the IAEA will host and participate in around 50 events, highlighting the solutions nuclear science and technology can provide in climate change mitigation, adaptation, and monitoring.
Cop28 / World Needs Sustained And Significant Investment In Nuclear Energy, Says IAEA :: NucNet | The Independent Nuclear News Agency
Cop28 / World Needs Sustained And Significant Investment In Nuclear Energy, Says IAEA :: NucNet | The Independent Nuclear News Agency: Landmark statement says reactors can help tackle the ‘existential challenge of a rapidly warming planet’
Proposals to put new nuclear reactors near coal mine sites ignore geological hazards > Appalachian Voices
Proposals to put new nuclear reactors near coal mine sites ignore geological hazards > Appalachian Voices: In October 2022, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced a goal of building a new nuclear reactor in Southwest Virginia within the next 10 years, setting off a flurry of excitement among local economic development officials and outrage among local residents who are concerned about the health and safety risks of nuclear power.
Advanced nuclear facing policy challenges on top of private-sector ones
Advanced nuclear facing policy challenges on top of private-sector ones: Don't expect the recent high-profile setbacks to dampen congressional enthusiasm, but there are roadblocks to commercialization.
NRC Issues Draft Guidance to Facilitate Reactor Siting | Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP - JDSupra
NRC Issues Draft Guidance to Facilitate Reactor Siting | Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP - JDSupra: If accepted, the new Draft Regulatory Guide DG-4034, “General Site Suitability Criteria for Nuclear Power Stations,” may facilitate the siting of both advanced and traditional reactors...
Environmental Groups Sue NRC over Diablo Canyon Hearing
Environmental Groups Sue NRC over Diablo Canyon Hearing: Groups filed a lawsuit against the NRC for rejecting the group’s request for a public hearing over outdated inspections at Diablo Canyon.
Deliberate nuclear use in a war over Taiwan: Scenarios and considerations for the United States - Atlantic Council
Deliberate nuclear use in a war over Taiwan: Scenarios and considerations for the United States - Atlantic Council: Matthew Kroenig argues the US and the PRC would have incentives to use nuclear weapons in a Taiwan war. The US must deter PRC nuclear use.
Nuclear energy no longer a taboo, WNE hears : Energy & Environment - World Nuclear News
Nuclear energy no longer a taboo, WNE hears : Energy & Environment - World Nuclear News: Much progress has been made over recent years in the representation of nuclear in national, regional and international debates on energy and the climate, speakers agreed at the opening session of the World Nuclear Exhibition in Paris this week.
Podcast: Making nuclear power plants look great : Perspectives - World Nuclear News
Podcast: Making nuclear power plants look great : Perspectives - World Nuclear News: We hear from an award-winning architect on the benefits of designing nuclear power plants that make people feel good ... plus Sweden's nuclear expansion features in the news round-up.
Contract awarded for construction of Shin Hanul 3 and 4 : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News
Contract awarded for construction of Shin Hanul 3 and 4 : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News: A consortium led by Hyundai Engineering & Construction has been selected by Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power as the contractor for the construction of the main facilities at units 3 and 4 of the Shin Hanul nuclear power plant.
Holtec didn’t mislead N.J. to get tax credits, appeals court rules
Holtec didn’t mislead N.J. to get tax credits, appeals court rules: The three-judge panel’s ruling affirmed a court's 2021 decision ordering the New Jersey Economic Development Authority to pay Holtec $26 million in incentives.
World's Largest Nuclear Fusion Reactor Opens In Japan | IFLScience
World's Largest Nuclear Fusion Reactor Opens In Japan | IFLScience: A record that should be broken in a few years.
Why renewed China-US cooperation bodes well for climate action
Why renewed China-US cooperation bodes well for climate action: The two superpowers – and super-emitters – recently put out a joint statement on climate change.
Thursday, November 30, 2023
House passes bill to permanently freeze $6B in Iranian funds | The Hill
House passes bill to permanently freeze $6B in Iranian funds | The Hill: The House on Thursday passed a bill that would force the Biden administration to permanently freeze $6 billion in funds it had opened up to Iran earlier this year in exchange for the release of five American detainees. The bill, introduced by Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC), passed…
Limits to supply chain diversification
Limits to supply chain diversification: Emerging trends demonstrate intensification of indirect supply chain integration with China
Scott Ritter: The End of US Nuclear Superiority – scheerpost.com
Scott Ritter: The End of US Nuclear Superiority – scheerpost.com: As Russia modernizes its nuclear arsenal it is no longer interested in trying to patch up an arms control relationship with the U.S. based on the legacy of the Cold War.
Westinghouse, Bechtel Dismiss Call to Buy Into Polish Nuclear Project - Bloomberg
Westinghouse, Bechtel Dismiss Call to Buy Into Polish Nuclear Project - Bloomberg: The US partners picked by Poland’s government to build the country’s first nuclear power plant pushed back against the suggestion that they should commit to an equity investment in the project.
Support for Nuclear Energy Stronger Than Ever in the U.S. and Growing Around the World | Business Wire
Support for Nuclear Energy Stronger Than Ever in the U.S. and Growing Around the World | Business Wire: The majority of U.S. respondents believe nuclear energy is a big part of the solution to climate disruption, according to the sixth consecutive ecoAme
Westinghouse Sees US Demand for New Large Nuclear Power Plants - Bloomberg
Westinghouse Sees US Demand for New Large Nuclear Power Plants - Bloomberg: New large-scale atomic power plants are still in demand in the US as utilities brace for growing calls to provide low-carbon energy generation, according to the head of nuclear-technology giant Westinghouse Electric Co.
How To Bring Back Nuclear — A New Paradigm Changing Role Of Government
How To Bring Back Nuclear — A New Paradigm Changing Role Of Government: The nuclear paradigm is broken and can’t be repaired. It needs to be rethought, root and branch.
Advanced Nuclear Energy Is In Trouble | The Breakthrough Institute
Advanced Nuclear Energy Is In Trouble | The Breakthrough Institute: The Breakthrough Institute is an environmental research center based in Berkeley, California. Our research focuses on identifying and promoting…
Urenco agrees supply deal with Energoatom to 2035 : Uranium & Fuel - World Nuclear News
Urenco agrees supply deal with Energoatom to 2035 : Uranium & Fuel - World Nuclear News: The contract will see Urenco continuing to supply Ukraine's Energoatom with enriched uranium until 2035, with an option to extend the contract to 2043.
SMR fuel supply chain grows as agreements signed : Waste & Recycling - World Nuclear News
SMR fuel supply chain grows as agreements signed : Waste & Recycling - World Nuclear News: Ontario Power Generation has selected suppliers Cameco, Urenco USA, Orano and Global Nuclear Fuel-Americas for the first fuel contracts for its planned small modular reactor units at the Darlington New Nuclear Project, while TerraPower and uranium producer Uranium Energy Corp are to work together on the fuel supply chain ahead of the construction of the first-of-a-kind Natrium plant.
Going Nuclear: A Guide to SMRs and Nuclear-Powered Data Centers | Data Center Knowledge | News and analysis for the data center industry
Going Nuclear: A Guide to SMRs and Nuclear-Powered Data Centers | Data Center Knowledge | News and analysis for the data center industry: Small nuclear reactors could one day power data centers with clean energy, but challenges remain.
NRC Issues Draft Guidance to Facilitate Reactor Siting
NRC Issues Draft Guidance to Facilitate Reactor Siting: A Nuclear Regulatory Commission draft regulatory guide may facilitate the siting of advanced and traditional reactors closer to population centers.
UN atomic chief backs nuclear power at COP28 as world reckons with proliferation | AP News
UN atomic chief backs nuclear power at COP28 as world reckons with proliferation | AP News: The world wants more nuclear energy as a means to fight climate change and supply an ever-growing demand for electricity, part of a generational shift in thinking on atomic power.
Microsoft Word - The Case for Nuclear Power - Edward Ring 11 30 23.doc - The Case for Nuclear Power - Edward Ring 11 30 23.pdf
Microsoft Word - The Case for Nuclear Power - Edward Ring 11 30 23.doc - The Case for Nuclear Power - Edward Ring 11 30 23.pdf
1
Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant. (Photo: slocounty.ca.gov)
Ringside View: The Case for Nuclear Power
California was once home to six nuclear power plants, generating a total of 5.8 gigawatts
By Edward Ring, November 30, 2023 2:55 am
https://californiaglobe.com/fr/ringside-view-the-case-for-nuclear-
power/
There are solutions to energy, water and infrastructure challenges that
make compelling economic and environmental sense even if there was
no climate crisis. But for those policymakers and influencers who
believe we face an existential threat for which the only appropriate way
to cope is to achieve “net zero,” these solutions ought to be even more
compelling.
Mass timber is a perfect example — to make it, you can harvest smaller
What China's graphite export curbs mean for EVs: 5 things to know - Nikkei Asia
What China's graphite export curbs mean for EVs: 5 things to know - Nikkei Asia: TOKYO/SEOUL -- Electric vehicle makers are bracing for Chinese export curbs on graphite, a key material in EV batteries, to begin on Friday.The r
China may be close to a climate tipping point
China may be close to a climate tipping point: With incentives from the rest of the world to slash its emissions, the country could be the leading force in the green transition
Russia Takes Control Of Iraq's Biggest Oil Discovery For 20 Years | ZeroHedge
Russia Takes Control Of Iraq's Biggest Oil Discovery For 20 Years | ZeroHedge: ZeroHedge - On a long enough timeline, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero
COP28: Nuclear Is Ready To Emerge As Crucial Player | Neutron Bytes
COP28: Nuclear Is Ready To Emerge As Crucial Player | Neutron Bytes: US will lay out international strategy to commercialize fusion and lead push to triple nuclear fission reactor capacity globally by 2050 (NucNet) As world leaders convene at this year’s Cop28 clima…
Wednesday, November 29, 2023
Thai coal miner Banpu to enter EV battery business - Nikkei Asia
Thai coal miner Banpu to enter EV battery business - Nikkei Asia: BANGKOK -- Banpu, Southeast Asia's biggest coal mining company, plans to enter Thailand's growing electric vehicle market, producing lithium-ion batte
IAEA says a dozen countries to be equipped with nuclear power | Reuters
IAEA says a dozen countries to be equipped with nuclear power | Reuters: A dozen countries are expected to start producing electricity from nuclear power sources within the next few years, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Association (IAEA) Rafael Mariano Grossi said on Tuesday.
IEA says financing challenges remain for nuclear projects | Reuters
IEA says financing challenges remain for nuclear projects | Reuters: The global nuclear industry is in the middle of a renaissance but still faces financing challenges and needs government support for projects, executive director of the International Energy Agency (IEA) Fatih Birol said on Tuesday.
Advanced Nuclear Energy Is In Trouble | The Breakthrough Institute
Advanced Nuclear Energy Is In Trouble | The Breakthrough Institute: The Breakthrough Institute is an environmental research center based in Berkeley, California. Our research focuses on identifying and promoting…
While America Pursues Renewables, Worldwide Expansion Is Underway For Nuclear Generated Electricity – OpEd – Eurasia Review
While America Pursues Renewables, Worldwide Expansion Is Underway For Nuclear Generated Electricity – OpEd – Eurasia Review: American political leaders such as President Joe Biden and California Governor Gavin Newsom continue “to dream the impossible dream” that intermittent electricity from wind and solar can run the wo…
Going Nuclear: A Guide to SMRs and Nuclear-Powered Data Centers | Data Center Knowledge | News and analysis for the data center industry
Going Nuclear: A Guide to SMRs and Nuclear-Powered Data Centers | Data Center Knowledge | News and analysis for the data center industry: Small nuclear reactors could one day power data centers with clean energy, but challenges remain.
Pittsburgh Inno - Ansys and NuScale team up for development of first small modular nuclear reactor that meets federal approval standards
Pittsburgh Inno - Ansys and NuScale team up for development of first small modular nuclear reactor that meets federal approval standards: 'This is a milestone achievement for NuScale, the nuclear energy sector, and global energy market as a whole,' Walt Hearn, senior vice president of worldwide sales and customer excellence at Ansys said in a statement.
How To Bring Back Nuclear — A New Paradigm Changing Role Of Government
How To Bring Back Nuclear — A New Paradigm Changing Role Of Government: The nuclear paradigm is broken and can’t be repaired. It needs to be rethought, root and branch.
NRC Issues Draft Guidance to Facilitate Reactor Siting
NRC Issues Draft Guidance to Facilitate Reactor Siting: A Nuclear Regulatory Commission draft regulatory guide may facilitate the siting of advanced and traditional reactors closer to population centers.
Car Dealers Warn Biden Administration to Pump Brakes on EV Plans | naked capitalism
Car Dealers Warn Biden Administration to Pump Brakes on EV Plans | naked capitalism: Auto dealers throw cold water on EV uptake hopium.
MHI selected to build new Japanese research reactor : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News
MHI selected to build new Japanese research reactor : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has been selected to design, produce and install a new research reactor at the Monju site in a project led by Japan's national nuclear research and development agency.
EDF agreements with Canadian, Czech and Indian firms : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News
EDF agreements with Canadian, Czech and Indian firms : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News: French energy company EDF signed cooperation agreements relating to the potential deployment of its technology, and the involvement of local supply chains, in Canada, the Czech Republic and India on the first day of World Nuclear Exhibition 2023 in Paris.
Framatome planning UK nuclear fuel fabrication facility : Uranium & Fuel - World Nuclear News
Framatome planning UK nuclear fuel fabrication facility : Uranium & Fuel - World Nuclear News: French company Framatome is planning the construction of a nuclear fuel fabrication facility in the UK as part of its plans to scale-up its operations in the country. In a separate development it also announced it was setting up a joint venture with Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation.
Belgium's PM De Croo calls for extra 10 years of nuclear energy | Reuters
Belgium's PM De Croo calls for extra 10 years of nuclear energy | Reuters: Belgium's Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said at the European Business Summit that the next Belgian government should consider an extra 10 years of nuclear energy on top of the 10 years his government is currently negotiating with Engie , a spokesperson said on Wednesday.
IEA says financing challenges remain for nuclear projects | Reuters
IEA says financing challenges remain for nuclear projects | Reuters: The global nuclear industry is in the middle of a renaissance but still faces financing challenges and needs government support for projects, executive director of the International Energy Agency (IEA) Fatih Birol said on Tuesday.
YouTuber Kyle Hill visits Dresden Station to prove a point about nuclear waste – Shaw Local
YouTuber Kyle Hill visits Dresden Station to prove a point about nuclear waste – Shaw Local: YouTuber Kyle Hill recently took a tour of Constellation's Dresden Generating Station in Morris to prove a point about nuclear waste.
Tuesday, November 28, 2023
Die EU bricht Rekorde bei russischen LNG-Käufen – Anti-Spiegel
Die EU bricht Rekorde bei russischen LNG-Käufen – Anti-Spiegel
https://www.anti-spiegel.ru/2023/die-eu-bricht-rekorde-bei-russischen-lng-kaeufen/
November 27, 2023
The EU breaks records in Russian LNG purchases
The EU intends to completely dispense with Russian energy sources by 2027, but so far Europe is breaking records in the purchase of fossil fuels from Russia.
VESTI - According to Eurostat, Estonia and Lithuania bought Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) worth 6.1 billion euros this year. The number of LNG tankers travelling from Russia to Europe is increasing.
Russian LNG deliveries to the EU amounted to a total of 16.7 billion cubic meters in 2022, compared to 12.3 billion cubic meters in 2021.
Spain and Belgium were the largest buyers of gas from Russia in the EU. From January to October, Spain bought 5.21 billion cubic meters, Belgium 3.14 billion cubic meters. The share of Russian LNG in Spain rose to 26.5 percent, in Belgium to 37.2 percent.
Spain paid 1.8 billion euros to Russia, France 1.5 billion euros and Belgium 1.36 billion euros.
Russian LNG deliveries to the EU are increasing, but not all EU countries have access to the sea and LNG re-evaporation plants. Thus, Spain and Belgium have become the most important hubs through which regasified Russian gas flows to other countries.
PG&E declares dividend for first time in six years (NYSE:PCG) | Seeking Alpha
PG&E declares dividend for first time in six years (NYSE:PCG) | Seeking Alpha: PG&E declares cash dividend for the first time since 2017, reflecting progress in becoming a safe utility.
Monday, November 27, 2023
Experts call for regional efforts to stem nuclear security threats
Experts call for regional efforts to stem nuclear security threats: Experts have called for close cooperation between countries in Africa to prevent the likelihood of criminals using nuclear and radioactive material to cause harm.
Westinghouse Secures First Customer for eVinci Nuclear Microreactor
Westinghouse Secures First Customer for eVinci Nuclear Microreactor: Westinghouse’s first customer for its eVinci microreactor—a flagship 5-MWe/13-MWth “nuclear battery”—is poised to be the Saskatchewan Research Council
Ansys Enables NuScale Power to Develop Advanced Nuclear Technology
Ansys Enables NuScale Power to Develop Advanced Nuclear Technology: Ansys solutions instrumental during the development of the first small modular reactor approved by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission / Key Highlights...
China's Global Economic Dominance Begins to Wane | OilPrice.com
China's Global Economic Dominance Begins to Wane | OilPrice.com: China's share of the global economy is shrinking at its fastest rate since the 1960s, marking a significant reversal in its rapid economic growth over the past decades.
Hydrogen Set to Compete with Fossil Fuels | OilPrice.com
Hydrogen Set to Compete with Fossil Fuels | OilPrice.com: The University of Houston's new research suggests that hydrogen fuel can be a profitable, environmentally friendly, and competitive alternative to gasoline and diesel in the Houston transportation sector.
French Nuclear Startup Seeks €150 Million for Reactor Prototype - BNN Bloomberg
French Nuclear Startup Seeks €150 Million for Reactor Prototype - BNN Bloomberg: Naarea, a three-year-old French nuclear startup, is looking to raise €150 million ($164 million) as it seeks to develop a small reactor that would meet growing industrial decarbonization needs from the start of the next decade.
Workforce Key Obstacle for Australia, U.S. to Deliver on AUKUS
Workforce Key Obstacle for Australia, U.S. to Deliver on AUKUS: Workforce Key Obstacle for Australia, U.S. to Deliver on AUKUS
Leading Nuclear Energy Testing Lab Suffers Major Data Breach
Leading Nuclear Energy Testing Lab Suffers Major Data Breach: The hacktivist group SiegedSec has taken responsibility for a massive data breach targeting Idaho National Laboratory, a leading nuclear energy testing lab.
IAEA reports rockets fired from near Zaporizhzhia plant : Regulation & Safety - World Nuclear News
IAEA reports rockets fired from near Zaporizhzhia plant : Regulation & Safety - World Nuclear News: International Atomic Energy Agency staff at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant say they heard what sounded like rockets "fired from a Multiple Launch Rocket System nearby" - it came on the same day the site lost connection to its main off-site power line.
Saskatchewan government announces microreactor funding : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News
Saskatchewan government announces microreactor funding : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News: The province is providing CAD80 million (USD59 million) for the Saskatchewan Research Council to pursue the demonstration of a microreactor in Saskatchewan, with plans for a Westinghouse-designed eVinci micoreactor to be operational in the province from 2029.
Second large Polish nuclear plant gets approval : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News
Second large Polish nuclear plant gets approval : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News: Poland's Ministry of Climate and Environment has issued a decision-in-principle for the country's second large nuclear power plant. Two South Korean-supplied APR1400 reactors are planned in the Patnów-Konin region.
Chinese long-distance nuclear heating project begins operation : Energy & Environment - World Nuclear News
Chinese long-distance nuclear heating project begins operation : Energy & Environment - World Nuclear News: China's first project to bring nuclear-generated heat to multiple prefecture-level cities has begun operation in Shandong province, supplying heat from the Haiyang nuclear power plant to the cities of Haiyang and Rushan through a 23 km pipeline.
[Salon] COP28: UAE Statecraft and Climate Diplomacy - ArabDigest.org
COP28: UAE Statecraft and Climate Diplomacy
Summary: the UAE is using clever statecraft and COP28 to position itself as the champion of climate action for the Global South while further enhancing its international political clout.
We thank Matthew Hedges for today’s newsletter. Matthew is an academic focussing on authoritarian regimes with an emphasis on the monarchies of the Gulf states. He is the author of Reinventing the Sheikhdom: Clan, Power and Patronage in Mohammed bin Zayed’s UAE published by Hurst in 2022. You can find Matthew’s podcast conversation about the book here.
The UAE’s hosting of the United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP28) has faced global criticism, yet its statecraft strategy has expertly amplified the small Gulf state’s global platform. Despite being one of the world’s largest exporters of oil and amongst the highest per capita consumers of energy and with the head of its national oil company ADNOC in charge of COP28 the UAE has positioned itself as a leading climate voice for the Global South. COP28 has provided a politicised and legitimate vehicle for the UAE to manipulate and extend its international footprint, while also supporting its short-term aim of shaping climate action policies in its own interests.
COP28 provides all states with an equal vote, levelling the international domain. Through this lens the UAE’s foreign policy related to climate action can be fully understood. There is no region-specific focus to the UAE’s outreach, rather a global effort that has exploited and builds on worldwide anxiety of a looming climate catastrophe.
Emirati statecraft orientation around climate action demonstrates a good governance that will help to secure support during COP28 negotiations. On every continent the UAE has heightened investment and developments through the prism of climate action and development. ADNOC’s CEO and COP28 president Sultan al-Jaber has used his chairmanship of the renewable energy company Masdar to deliver investments, partnerships, and capabilities to micro and small states including the Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Armenia, Uzbekistan, Seychelles, Mauritania and Bahamas. (The UAE’s successful outreach has even resulted in Tonga establishing an embassy in Abu Dhabi, which for a population of 107,000 is illustrative of the UAE’s ability to curry favour and win votes across the international stage.)
The augmentation of climate action to aid and development has recently been seen in Yemen where the UAE has constructed renewable energy projects to aid its proxy the STC (the separatist Southern Transitional Council) providing it with a sustainable ability to generate energy and avoid dependence upon the UAE for support.
Meanwhile, the UAE has recently turned to its oil profits to amplify its “green credentials” primarily through carbon offsetting. From Liberia, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia to Zimbabwe and the Horn of Africa the UAE has been buying millions of hectares across Africa to offset its own carbon emissions while claiming to conserve forests. This exploitative practice has been condemned as destabilising. However when Global South states need investment and support, the UAE is perceived as an ally who is providing much needed backing. The UAE has successfully capitalised on the West’s retreat and isolation and elevated its global significance across a spectrum of fields. Throughout the lead-up to COP28 the UAE has been vocal about the need to provide tailored financing solutions in the fight against climate change. Green Islamic financing solutions have been established, highlighting the UAE’s nuanced strategy in structuring a wide range of solutions.
Climate action is intrinsically associated with modernity and the potential of high tech solutions. The UAE has been advancing itself as a global climate tech hub, with the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, Masdar, Mubadala, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), Abu Dhabi Holding (ADQ), Etihad Credit Insurance (ECI), and International Holding Company (IHC) all promoting avenues for collaboration and development. The UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology has also shown itself as a driver of innovation and has supported strategic partnerships with Japan, UK, and the US. The UAE’s Aim for Climate has amassed a coalition of over 50 states to drive sustainable technology and commercial solutions.
The UAE’s recent efforts are impressive both for the impact they have had and the coordination displayed across its statecraft levers. The sophistication of this coordinated policy approach attracts global support and is empowered by global values. It is likely then that ahead of COP28 the Emiratis have secured significant international support through a strategy that enables them to oversee climate negotiations in a globally ‘democratic’ manner. However this UAE-overseen COP28 will likely fall short of immediate progress. Still, while the West may attempt to accelerate global solutions to fight climate change, it is the UAE that will provide substantial weight for a globalised approach while at the same time continuing to exploit its ample carbon resources for immediate development. That is a challenging finesse but one the UAE is already signalling it is capable of pulling off.
Global scramble for Uranium spells trouble for UK's nuclear plans
Global scramble for Uranium spells trouble for UK's nuclear plans: The global rush for Uranium, and the consequential price spike, could pose a major headache for the UK's nuclear power ambitions.
Can China Achieve its Nuclear Energy Ambitions?
Can China Achieve its Nuclear Energy Ambitions?: China plans to double nuclear in its energy mix in 2035, but experts say safety concerns might be in the way
The High Cost of International Shipping - Geopolitical Futures
The High Cost of International Shipping - Geopolitical Futures: Though the cease-fire in Gaza has eased tensions in the Middle East, the prospects of a wider conflict still remain, and energy markets expect a new hike
Sunday, November 26, 2023
The hidden reasons behind the war on Gaza (Part I) | Al Mayadeen English
The hidden reasons behind the war on Gaza (Part I) | Al Mayadeen English: Either the Resistance Axis and the Global South decolonize the Middle East, or "Israel" and the US will continue occupying the region, choking off the New Silk Road, plundering Syria's oil, and keeping Russian, Iranian, and Arab gas cut off from the world market.