Energy & Resources

Listen to Gorilla Radio’s podcast with SPPGA Prof. Ramana on how the Liberal government’s funding of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) is a pipe dream. He cites the lengthy time, cost, and the economic disadvantage of switching to SMRs as the main reasons for its infeasibility.

In 2014, at the WIPP transuranic waste repository in New Mexico, a chemical reaction with kitty litter caused a drum to ignite. Vincent Ialenti delves into how overambitious political initiatives, fraught labor relationships, financialized subcontracting arrangements and more set the stage for a radiological disaster (Journal access).

Today, the nuclear industry is thinking small, but whether there will be a market after they foot the bill remains to be seen, asserts Professor Ramana.

“Though not alone in its destructive practices, Beijing’s rapacious fleet causes humanitarian disasters and has a unique military mission.” Professor Rashid Sumaila (SPPGA & UBC Oceans) speaks on the vast amount of capital being pumped into China’s fishing subsidies.

“The European Union (EU) claims to be a leader in sustainability and multilateral cooperation. But so far in the World Trade Organisation’s fisheries subsidies talks, the EU has failed to lead,” says Professor Rashid Sumaila (SPPGA; UBC Oceans) as deadline for talks loom.

In a comprehensive co-authored study, Professor Philippe Le Billon (SPPGA; UBC Geography) looks at a systematic mapping of 649 cases of resistance movements to energy-related projects.

As World Trade Organization fisheries negotiations and talk of eliminating subsidies ramp up, Professor Rashid Sumaila (SPPGA; UBC Oceans) was quoted on global fisheries subsidy amounts and the portion used to build fishing fleets.

Professor Rashid Sumaila (SPPGA & UBC Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries) discusses the benefits of investing into sustainable ocean economy initiatives to reduce the ocean-specific biodiversity finance gaps and identifies 7 key actions to strengthen the SOE. Read more at GreenBiz.

SPPGA Professor Ramana, the Simons Chair in Disarmament, Global and Human Security, disputes what small modular nuclear reactor advocates claim to be a prospective business opportunity in New Brunswick. Read more at NB Media Co-op.

The Canadian International Resources and Development Institute has announced the release of its Year in Review, highlighting the Institute’s biggest achievements and initiatives from 2019-2020.

A study conducted by a team of marine researchers found that temporarily stopping Canadian fishing activity would lead to gains of up to 10 times above the status quo after 30 years. Co-author Professor Rashid Sumaila (SPPGA & Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries) has more at The Narwhal.

One result of pandemic-driven economic shutdowns around the world is a change in patterns of energy production and use. However, SPPGA Professor Ramana, Sara Nelson (Simons Postdoctoral Fellow), and Lindah Ddamba (MPPGA student) point out that these changes will not automatically result in a green energy transition. More at Progressive International.

Fish populations in Canada need to be urgently rebuilt, but short-term socio-economic concerns often slow down or even prevent the process of rebuilding stocks, declares a new study. UBC news interviews authors, including Professor Rashid Sumaila (SPPGA & Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries), on findings.

SPPGA Professor Ramana provides an in-depth look at small modular nuclear reactors, their history and potential, on a podcast published by the Payne Institute for Public Policy, Colorado School of Mines.

A new study found that drug trafficking on fishing vessels accounts for about 15% of the global retail value of illicit drugs. Professor Philippe Le Billon (SPPGA & UBC Geography) says that the global pandemic may exacerbate the problem. More from Mongabay.

The world’s stockpile of nuclear weapons—estimated at over 13,400 at the beginning of 2020 – have a least one thing in common with humans: they are “retired” when they reach old age. But what happens to these “retired” weapons? SPPGA Professor Ramana speaks on retiring nuclear arsenals to the Inter Press Service News Agency.

“As of early 2020, the nuclear-armed states are estimated to possess approximately 13,410 nuclear weapons.” Reaching Critical Will’s report, Assuring destruction forever: 2020 edition, invites experts to speak on national nuclear weapon programmes.

Our seas are under pressure. Overfishing, acidity, pollution are decimating fish stocks. We all feel it is bad – but how bad is it really? Join Professor Rashid Sumaila (SPPGA & UBC Institute for the Oceans) as he sits down with Highgrade Media Production’s podcast to discuss the big question of fishing sustainability.

Should we still rely on outdated and potentially catastrophic technology for energy? This is the question of the hour as work for two U.S. nuclear power projects are underway. SPPGA Professor Ramana speaks in IEEE Spectrum.

Despite long-standing debate around the command and control of India’s nuclear weapons, few details about the structure and organization of such a system exist publicly. SPPGA Professor Ramana and Postdoctoral fellow Lauren Borja dive into the evolution of India’s nuclear arsenal, infrastructure and its emerging challenges.

Washington’s prospective withdrawal from the 28-years old Open Skies Treaty will likely prompt Russiato follow suit. SPPGA Professor Ramana addresses the increasingly tense relations between the two world powers. Read more at Sputnik.