How can community support for the nuclear option be achieved?

How can community support for the nuclear option be achieved?

Ben HeardDirector- ThinkClimate Consulting

Founder – Decarbonise SAAuthor- Zero Carbon Options

There is a wrong way...

“We need to find a way to convince Australians to embrace an unpopular energy source”. “Nuclear power is a necessary evil if we are to maintain reliable energy supply while meeting our commitments to reducing greenhouse gas emissions”.

Community Support

Acknowledge existing support

Occupy the middle

Offer good information

Contest bad information

Deliver a positive vision

There is a right way...

Strong supporter base

This is not only about winning supporters, but also about giving existing supporters a voice and a sense that they are not alone

Acknowledge existing support

Scope for growth.Acknowledge

existing support

This is not just about education...

I’m here to explain why you have been wrong, and why I

should be allowed to invest

Occupy the middle

Proponents must establish common ground,acknowledge shortcomings, early and often

The nuclear industry has been a pretty hopeless communicator at times. It’s little wonder people are suspicious

There have been accidents, both serious and minor nuclear. They have largely been preventable. This is not a perfect industry.

Nuclear costs a lot to build, and the construction takes time.

Hazardous spent fuel is a real disadvantage of nuclear power

Occupy the middle

The community decides when it is ready to hear information

Occupy the middle

It seems there is no cheap way to beat climate change...

I wonder what the actual risks are of spent nuclear fuel?

We might actually be safer with nuclear...

They seem frank, humble, and honest. I‘ll listen to their case

If we demand perfection before we act decisively on climate...

Is cost a reason to stop it from being considered?

Occupy the middle

Address key areas for knowledge development

Nuclear power is about 10 times safer than coal with regard to accidents, and over 600 times safer with regard to pollution (ExternE 2005, cited in Lancet 2007)

38% of respondents believe nuclear is more dangerous than coal (Virulent Ideas 2012)

Offer good information

Address key areas for knowledge development

65% of respondents think nuclear power plants are potential nuclear bombs (Virulent Ideas 2012)

Offer good information

Address key areas for knowledge development

50% of respondents believe nuclear power is more dangerous than climate change (Virulent Ideas 2012)

Offer good information

Good nuclear information needs CONTEXT

Black coal52%

Brown coal23%

Gas15%

Oil products1%

other1%

Biofuels1%Hydro

5%

Wind2%

Solar pv0%

Australia's Electricity Production 2009-10 (ABARES 2011)

Offer good information

Good nuclear information uses COMPARISON

Exclusion of nuclear is a costly position to maintain

Offer good information

Bad information must be contested

Original, non-reviewed figures

Low by factor of 77

Low by factor of 77

Low by factor of 77

Low by factor of 77

Contest bad information

Source: ExternE (2005) cited in Lancet (2007)

Source: Burgherr & Hirschberg 2008, published by Paul Scherrer Institute

Energy Source Mortality Rate (deaths/trillion kWh) Coal- global average electricity 170,000 Coal- China electricity 280,000 Coal- US electricity 15,000 Oil 36,000 Natural Gas 4,000 Biofuel/Biomass Energy 24,000 Solar (rooftop electricity) 440 Wind 150 Nuclear – global average 90

Source: Conca 2012, published by Forbes

Source: Choose Nuclear Free (Friends of the Earth) (2011), withdrawn 2013

Deliver a positive visionDeliver a positive vision

What do Australians want to look into the future and see?

Carbon-competitive industry and manufacturing with stable, insulated power prices

Deliver a positive visionDeliver a positive vision

Seven summer days in France. A decarbonised grid to emulate

Deliver a positive visionDeliver a positive vision

Greenhouse-free desalination. Adapt to climate change without making it worse

Deliver a positive visionDeliver a positive vision

Portable zero-carbon power for settlements,

regions, or off-grid applications

Deliver a positive visionDeliver a positive vision

Add high-tech, knowledge-based jobs to Australia

Deliver a positive visionDeliver a positive vision

Kick-start the decarbonisation of private transport.Greenhouse-free energy for vehicle charging any time.

Deliver a positive visionDeliver a positive vision

Deliver a positive vision

Breakthrough weak, politicised emissions targets to strong decarbonisation outcomes

Deliver a positive vision

Start with the world’s best technology and overcome capital cost hurdles

Deliver a positive visionDeliver a positive vision

Deliver a positive vision

Regional leadership towards a future where waste is fuel, and energy is plentiful

Deliver a positive vision

Clean our air of harmful pollutants with chimney-free power

Deliver a positive visionDeliver a positive vision

Trust AustraliansInvite them to join a conversation

Establish common groundAcknowledge legitimate concernsProvide the information required

Provide the positive vision Australia needs

Community Support

Ben Heardben.heard@thinkclimateconsulting.com.au

www.thinkclimateconsulting.com.auwww.decarbonisesa.com.au

@BenThinkClimate