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

The Coalition has said that, if elected to government, a part of the Loy Yang station in Victoria would be one of seven sites around the country to host a nuclear reactor. New analysis doubts Australia can reach its net zero target by 2050 under the Coalition proposal. Photograph: Asanka Brendon Ratnayake/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake for The Guardian

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.