Coalition nuclear plan hides a 2bn tonne ‘carbon bomb’ that puts net zero by 2050 out of reach, new analysis shows

Climate Change Authority chair Matt Kean says Dutton's energy proposal is equivalent to adding two Beetaloo basins' worth of emissions to atmosphere

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Peter Dutton's nuclear energy policy would add huge amounts of extra climate pollution to the atmosphere and make it virtually impossible" for Australia to reach net zero by 2050, according to new analysis by a government agency.

The Climate Change Authority found the Coalition's proposal to slow the rollout of renewable energy, keep ageing coal-fired power plants running until after 2040 and build taxpayer-funded nuclear reactors on seven sites would increase total carbon dioxide emissions by more than 2bn tonnes.

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