Two degrees
A reminder of mankind’s reliance on fossil fuels and our general ignorance and vulnerability surrounding new and as-yet untested materials was thrust into the spotlight once again as Fukushima struggled to control it’s catastrophe stricken nuclear power plants
A reminder of mankind's reliance on fossil fuels and our general ignorance and vulnerability surrounding new and as-yet untested materials was thrust into the spotlight once again as Fukushima struggled to control it's catastrophe stricken nuclear power plants
Eyebrows were raised when the Japanese government started to rely primarily on seawater to avoid a (further) humanitarian crisis. Where did they get the idea that such a method would be effective at all? Go to certain parts of Russia, where large battalions of nuclear submarines have been receiving similar treatment for decades. In many northern and coastal towns across the former Soviet bloc soldiers and sailors are on twenty-four hour guard, hosing down hundreds of tonnes of potentially cataclysmic materials, or so the rumours go.
Considering the fear installed by governments during and post- Cold War on uranium it seems rich now to assume that our attitude should change so drastically because the popularity of using it as an energy source has increased. Other than burying it in certain outposts in the Australian outback we still don’t know how to dispose of it.
As the Japanese are now discovering, we cannot rely wholly on an energy source that is, as yet, not completely within humanity’s understanding. “It is true that our reduction target will be affected significantly,” said a member of the country’s environment ministry, following speculation that there will be a boosted requirement for fossil fuels, placing a major dent in Japan’s ambitious determination to reduce carbon emissions by 25 percent of 1990 totals.
One nation attempting to resolve it’s somewhat conflicting interest in energy management is Australia. Although the country’s lax approach to uranium has seen it come under criticism from international environmental groups, it’s certainly taking drastic steps in other areas. The government is hoping to ratify the Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI) at the start of July, which would see the world’s first nationally legislated market for carbon credits from farming projects. In other words, those that throw money into forestry projects will benefit from tax incentives and the ability to produce on larger scales. A major drawback is that price will have to be set on carbon emissions in order to underscore demand for major polluters, stifling the freedom of the markets.
Much like the accepted attitude toward nuclear power over fossils, it seems to be a short-term solution with an obvious defect from the outset.
