The recent announcement by the leader of the Federal Liberal National Party for a climate action plan for Australia’s transition to net zero emissions based on seven nuclear plants with a mix of renewables of gas and renewables, has ignited concern and controversy. This is not surprising given the latest independent polling (18 June 2024) on this issue in Australia by the Essential Report which indicated that: - “People think the best way to achieve our net zero by 2050 target is by developing renewables rather than developing nuclear (63% to 37%) ”. The poll highlighted the reason why public interest environmental controversies continue to ignite conflict when environment/anti-nuclear positions and development/pro-nuclear positions collide. T he unfortunate outcome for the information conflict situation, in this case, is a red corner ~v~ blue corner scenario! Instead, the focus should be on managing the information conflict created by divergent opinion ove
Environmental problems such as climate change, Land Use Change and Forestry, biodiversity, the Great Barrier Reef, Indigenous land interests, water resources, chemical hazards, public health, are global problems for sustainability. Finding sustainable solutions for these conflicts should not be seen as the exclusive domain of law or as the sole province of science. Resolving environmental conflicts requires meaningful integration between law and science and effective public participation.