Search Climate Insights Directory

CAPE opposes the granting of a licence for the DNNP site, citing the lack of a chosen reactor design, the absence of historical data for small modular reactors (SMRs), and the high risks associated with locating nuclear facilities in densely populated areas near Lake Ontario. The submission highlights the failure to release the Provincial Nuclear Emergency Response Plan (PNERP) Technical Study and argues that the 2009 site licence application is obsolete due to population growth and climate change. CAPE advocates for a transition to renewable energy over untested SMR technology.

The briefing describes the development and application of a customized vulnerability assessment and inundation mapping tool for New York's Great Lakes region. It emphasizes the importance of using 'weather trends' rather than 'climate change' terminology to engage local officials and highlights a case study in the village of Sodus Point where participatory workshops led to specific resiliency actions, such as new communication strategies and the investigation of the Coastal Erosion Hazard Act.

The report finds that pollution costs Canada tens of billions of dollars annually, though full costs are obscured by data gaps. Urban smog is the most quantified pollutant, costing $36 billion in 2015. Other significant impacts include the $12.2 billion in combined current and future liabilities for contaminated sites, the $1.6 billion cost of climate-related heat waves in 2015, and substantial ecosystem and property value losses in Lake Erie due to algal blooms. The document highlights critical data gaps regarding persistent organic pollutants (POPs), heavy metals, and greenhouse gas emissions.

The report estimates that pollution costs Canada tens of billions of dollars annually, with urban smog alone accounting for 36 billion dollars in 2015. It categorizes these costs into health and well-being, direct financial losses to income, and the reduction of asset values. The document highlights significant data gaps regarding persistent organic pollutants (POPs), heavy metals, and greenhouse gas emissions, while detailing the high costs of contaminated sites, climate-related extreme weather, and water pollution such as algal blooms and pathogens.

This report lists specific instances of radioactively contaminated water leaks, spills, and overflows at numerous US nuclear facilities. The events range from small spills of a few gallons to large-scale leaks of hundreds of thousands of gallons, often involving tritium. Common causes include equipment failure, operator error, and pipe degradation, with contamination affecting soil, storm drains, and nearby water bodies such as the Mississippi River, Lake Michigan, and the Connecticut River.