As Prime Minister Scott Morrison heads to Glasgow for the COP26 climate summit, leading Australian civil society groups have thrown their weight behind a new global rejection of nuclear power.
The groups, with a membership numbering in the millions across a broad cross-section of the Australian community, have endorsed a global statement and are increasing their efforts to stop the dangerous distraction of domestic nuclear power being used to delay effective climate action.
Key trade union, medical, faith, environmental, climate and First Nation organisations and voices are supporting the initiative.
These include peak state, territory and national trade union bodies, national environment groups the Australian Conservation Foundation, Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace, the Uniting Church, Doctors for the Environment, the Smart Energy Council and many more.
The groups have rejected the current push by some conservative politicians and the Mineral Council of Australia to remove long standing Howard-era federal prohibitions on domestic nuclear power, describing nuclear as ‘slow, expensive and dangerous.’
The groups have instead called for clear and urgent action to grow secure jobs in a renewable energy future, declaring that ‘renewables give us the ability to make a just transition for energy sector workers, their families and communities and to provide secure global access to sustainable low carbon electricity.’
The groups have urged PM Morrison to go to Glasgow with his eyes and ears open to the massive economic and employment opportunities that the global renewable energy transition has for Australia and, amid the current political churn with sections of the Nationals, to accept that renewable energy is real, affordable, low risk and clean.
Nuclear cannot deliver an energy transition safely, or at the speed and price Australia needs.
National environment organisations
Australian Conservation Foundation
Friends of the Earth Australia
The Wilderness Society
Greenpeace Australia Pacific
Smart Energy Council
350 Australia
Sunrise Project
Mineral Policy Institute
Peoples Climate Assembly
State/territory/regional environment groups
Conservation Council West Australia
Conservation Council South Australia
Environment Victoria
Environment Centre Northern Territory
Queensland Conservation Council
Nature Conservation Council NSW
Arid Lands Environment Centre
Cairns and Far North Environment Centre
Friends of the Earth Melbourne
Friends of the Earth Far North Queensland
Friends of the Earth Adelaide
Sutherland Shire Environment Centre
Sustainable living Armidale
Climate Action Monaro
Clean Energy Council
Unions
Electrical Trades Union
Australian Manufacturing Workers Union
Unions West Australia
Unions Tasmania
United Workers Union
Unions NT
Communications Electrical Plumbers Union South Australia
Australian Education Union
Victorian Trades Hall Council
Maritime Union of Australia
Australian Services Union
Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation
Indigenous and social justice and medical
Original Power
Australia Nuclear Free Alliance
West Australia Nuclear Free Alliance
Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation
Aid Watch
Medical Association for the Prevention of War
Doctors for the Environment Australia
Green Music Australia
Green Institute
U Ethical
People for Nuclear Disarmament NSW
Marrickville Peace Group
Adam Dempsey Mastering
Faith
Uniting Church Australia
Quakers Australia
Australian Religious Response to Climate Change
Franciscan Friar
Pax Christi Australia
Sisters of Mercy of Australia and Papua New Guinea
