68th IAEA General Conference

Nuclear technologies were in the focus at an event on science, technology and innovation for climate-resilient agrifood systems.

The IAEA and the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) highlighted their joint work to advance climate-smart agriculture and foster sustainable food systems globally. They also signed a Memorandum of Understanding to formalize their decades-long partnership.

“Our partnership shows how our combined efforts can lead to practical solutions befitting people, planet and prosperity,” said Ismahane Elouafi, CGIAR Executive Managing Director. 

“Let’s build on what we have done before, finetune it and make it scalable,” said Najat Mokhtar, IAEA Deputy Director and Head of the Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications. “Let’s build on each other’s connectivity and continue innovation by looking at tools that have shown impact.”  

The IAEA’s Atoms4Climate Pavilion has been a popular destination at COP29! IAEA staff have been on hand to share information and answer questions about the many ways that nuclear energy, science and technologies can help us tackle the challenges of climate change.

"It has been very inspiring to engage with such a diverse audience at COP29,” said Daniela Izabal Nogueda, Programme Officer in the IAEA Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications, seen here. “Many are unaware of how nuclear innovations contribute to the fight against climate change, and it’s always rewarding to see their positive reactions upon learning more. The more we raise awareness, the greater the potential for nuclear technologies to drive sustainable solutions and improve lives worldwide."

The Guarani Aquifer System is a vital water resource shared by Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, sustaining millions and serving as a critical buffer against the impacts of climate change. The 2020 agreement on managing this aquifer was highlighted as a model of international cooperation in diplomacy and science at an event on strengthening transboundary water resilience.  

“By fostering water diplomacy and grounding our efforts in scientific knowledge, we can protect the lifeblood of our planet and build a future where water is a source of peace and resilience,” said Iara Giacomini, Director of River Basin Rehabilitation, Access to Water and Multiple Use of Water Resources at Brazil's Ministry of Environment and Climate Change. 

The Guarani Aquifer plays a key role in supporting regional economic growth and future climate resilience. The IAEA is helping to advance scientific collaboration and capacity building across the aquifer’s countries, supporting the sustainable management of groundwater and providing data to help ensure its reliability even under changing climate patterns. 

To follow a recording of the event, please click here  

“This COP must be a moment for multilateralism, international cooperation, standing up for each other and showing solidarity, working together for the future,” Simon Stiell, UNFCCC Executive Secretary, said at a high-level event on South-South cooperation in tackling climate change hosted by the People’s Republic of China on 15 November.

Senior officials from governments, the IAEA and other UN bodies called for increased collaboration for sustainable development and climate resilience.

“South-South cooperation allows us to create a coalition for resilience, solidarity and action,” said Jorge Moreira da Silva, UNOPS Executive Director. “Combined, we have the tools and partnerships to make a difference, but we must act with urgency, purpose and a deep sense of shared responsibility.”

IAEA Deputy Director General Hua Liu stressed that South-South and triangular cooperation are key mechanisms for delivering capacity building to help countries mitigate, adapt to and monitor climate change. In 2024, the IAEA signed an agreement with the United Nations Office on South-South Cooperation to strengthen collaboration in promoting South-South modalities. 

So far over 30 countries have joined the pledge launched last year at COP28 to work towards tripling their nuclear energy capacity by 2050.

Achieving this ambitious goal will require significant financing, to the tune of about 150 billion USD annually according to a new IAEA report. This would represent a threefold increase from the 50 billion USD invested in the industry annually from 2017 through 2023. Getting there will require innovative thinking and new financing approaches.  

An event organized by the Nuclear Energy Agency and the Nuclear Energy Institute last Friday explored recent progress in nuclear financing and how to foster greater investment. Senior officials from governments, nuclear organizations and the private sector took part in the discussion.

Underscoring the commitment of Sweden’s new government to expand and maintain the country’s nuclear reactor fleet, Daniel Westling, State Secretary to Sweden’s Ministry of Climate and the Environment, said, “I am convinced we will be able to reduce the financial risks.”

Private investment was highlighted as crucial for increasing nuclear power financing. Increased international collaboration was also identified as an important element of success.

“People want competitive offers,” said Michel Hejidra, Vice Minister for Climate and Energy at the Netherlands’ Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy. “We need regional cooperation.”

Speakers from the United States of America and the IAEA also joined the discussion, addressing sustainable financing and the importance of partnerships.

“I discovered so many things when I started working at the IAEA, so I invite you to learn more,” said Najat Mokhtar, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications, at a networking event for young people considering or already pursuing careers in the nuclear field. “We are looking to you as the next generation,” she added.

Young professionals had the chance to meet with IAEA staff and other nuclear experts to learn about nuclear career paths and IAEA programmes supporting young nuclear science and technology specialists. Featured programmes included the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship and Lise Meitner Programme, which support education and career development in the nuclear field for women professionals, as well as fellowship opportunities through the IAEA technical cooperation programme.  

The event was organized in collaboration with Women in Nuclear: Young Generation, the African Young Nuclear Generation and the International Youth Nuclear Congress. 

Meeting the energy needs of communities in the Arctic can be challenging due to their remoteness and the high cost of transportation. Small modular reactors could be ideal for providing both electricity and heating to this region.

“Smart reactors could be an option for communities to help enable their life,” said George Christidis, Vice President of Government Relations and International Affairs at the Canadian Nuclear Association, at an IAEA event that took a look at the challenges and opportunities of deploying small modular reactors (SMRs) in the Arctic region, including financing and policy aspects.

Speakers from the World Nuclear Association and the Nuclear Energy Institute also took part in the conversation, touching on licensing and regulatory considerations as well as how to contend with limited accessibility of remote areas. 

“SMRs are more attractive to private and corporate investors,” said Taisiya Afanasyeva, an IAEA energy economist, pointing out that standardizing legislation on SMRs would help ensure that they could be deployed on time and on budget.

Learn more about SMRs here.

The IAEA is at COP29 in Baku, putting into place concrete measures to help countries use nuclear science and technology to fight climate change. 

This short film summarizes the Agency's work over the first week. Nuclear events and climate negotiations will continue at the conference until November 22. 

Nuclear power and renewable energy sources have a vital role to play in decarbonizing electricity production. They can also be used to power hard-to-abate sectors, including hydrogen production. A side event on ‘The Role of Green Hydrogen in Advancing 24/7 Carbon Free Energy’ examined how ‘green hydrogen’, or hydrogen produced solely with clean electricity, is key for the net zero transition. The event, organized by Sustainable Energy for All, also looked at the challenges that must be overcome to produce clean hydrogen on a large scale.

“Africa has a lot of potential to harness and really use green hydrogen energy,” said Peter Oviroh, a lecturer at the University of Johannesburg and member of the UN Council of Engineers for the Energy Transition. “There is a lot of interest but not enough resources to give. The private sector needs to step in to help.”

Hydrogen is used for a variety of applications, from manufacturing semiconductors to powering fuel cell electric vehicles. But for now, most of it is produced with fossil fuels. Nuclear power and renewables can be used to drive electrolytic processes to produce hydrogen cleanly — though the costs are relatively high. Hydrogen produced through electrolysis powered by nuclear energy is known as 'pink hydrogen'.

“Right now, on the basis of cost, it doesn’t make sense to produce hydrogen at nuclear power plants,” said Henri Paillere, Head of the IAEA’s Planning and Economic Studies Section. “We need to find ways to reduce these costs, including the cost of electrolyzers.”

Speakers from the IAEA, industry and academia discussed ways to boost green hydrogen production, including infrastructure needs and private sector involvement.

Head to the IAEA Atoms4Climate Pavilion at COP29 to find out more about how nuclear science and technology provides solutions for climate change mitigation, adaptation and monitoring. The Pavilion is in the Blue Zone and is designed around four thematic areas: energy, food, the ocean and water.  

Take part in informed debate on how nuclear technology and applications can be used to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, build resilience to the impacts of climate change and provide data for decision making.  

The Atoms4Climate pavilion provides a space for government leaders, civil society, academia and media, as well as the nuclear science and technology community, to gather and share their thoughts on innovation in the nuclear field.  

See you at the Atoms4Climate Pavilion! 

Young people are making their voices heard at COP29.

“We advocate for youth to have a seat at the table with senior leadership as they make decisions that could impact the climate that we will inherit,” Sarah Frances Smith of the International Youth Nuclear Congress said.

Veeshesh Sunassy was one of 30 young advocates from the youth led Nuclear for Climate (N4C) to meet with IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi on Wednesday. N4C is a grassroots initiative that promotes nuclear energy as a low-carbon solution to climate change.

Sunassy said there was rising belief that nuclear energy can effectively complement renewables in achieving global climate goals. He pointed to a strong partnership with Women in Renewable Energy for more balanced representation of clean energy technologies on COP panels. “Together, we are better," he said.

“Nuclear energy, we believe, is a key part of this [net zero] transition, working alongside renewables to deliver a cleaner, more equitable future,” said Julieta Romero of N4C.

Praising their activism, Mr. Grossi said: “Pro-environment and pro-nuclear, they are already changing minds with science, courage, and a clear call for climate action. It’s high time all leaders listen — and more than that, act.”

N4C volunteers from 17 countries, plus dozens of youth delegates from the International Youth Nuclear Congress, Women in Nuclear and other organizations, are raising awareness and engaging with policymakers, NGOs and media to promote the nuclear message.

Great to meet the young nuclear advocates at #COP29.

Pro-environment and pro-nuclear, they are already changing minds with science, courage, and a clear call for #ClimateAction.

It’s high time all leaders listen—and more than that, act. pic.twitter.com/VZa0av0lgt

— Rafael MarianoGrossi (@rafaelmgrossi) November 13, 2024

Introducing or expanding nuclear power as a low-carbon source of energy requires a long-term commitment. The IAEA supports countries in creating an enabling environment, adequate infrastructure and human capacity to facilitate the safe and secure introduction or expansion of nuclear power, including new technologies such as small modular reactors. 

An IAEA event on Wednesday showcased how countries have benefited from an IAEA interregional project that supports the development of national infrastructure for safe, secure and peaceful nuclear power programmes. Panellists shared their national experience – including challenges – in introducing nuclear energy using the IAEA 19 milestone approach and in complying with international legal instruments and safety standards. They spoke about the vital role of partnerships in this effort, especially to build or boost nuclear infrastructure safely and securely. 

“IAEA technical cooperation projects related to nuclear power infrastructure development have been very beneficial for newcomer countries,” said Dimas Irawan, a policy analyst at Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency. He highlighted this project’s benefits for Indonesia, including increased awareness among key national stakeholders of the importance of strengthening nuclear infrastructure, increasing human resources capacity and expanding networks with IAEA and international experts, institutions and technology providers. 

Meeting the Paris Agreement targets will require a major increase in deployment of clean energy sources, including renewables and nuclear power. To deliver on the ambitious expansion plans necessary for the clean energy transition, unlocking additional financial resources is crucial.

“Finance institutions must adapt and keep pace with what the market calls for – and there’s a clear demand for nuclear,” said IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi. “The tools are there – government support, green loans, public-private partnerships and international co-financing. Now we need commitment. Nuclear energy is critical to keeping the 1.5°C goal within reach, and it’s time we collectively unlock its full potential.”

Investment in nuclear energy must increase to around 125 billion USD annually, up from the roughly 50 billion USD invested each year from 2017-2023, to meet the IAEA’s high case projection for nuclear capacity in 2050, according to a recent IAEA report.

Wednesday’s side event on financing low carbon technologies, co-organized by the IAEA together with the COP29 Presidency, took an in-depth look at the financing options needed to accelerate the deployment of clean energy sources around the world in developed and developing countries alike.

Speakers from Azerbaijan, Ghana, EBRD, the IAEA, the International Energy Agency , the International Renewable Energy Agency, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, and the World Nuclear Association highlighted the importance of collaboration between the public and private sector as well as innovative ways to fund clean energy projects.   

Thursday is another busy day for the IAEA at COP29!

Start your day at the IAEA’s Atoms4Climate pavilion to learn how nuclear energy, science and technology can help tackle the impacts of climate change.

Inspiring the next generation of energy leaders to promote innovation and speed up the transition to a sustainable future is the aim of an event on advancing sustainable technologies globally hosted by the International Youth Nuclear Congress in collaboration with Women in Renewable Energy and Women in Nuclear.

An event on nuclear energy for clean energy transitions will highlight the growing momentum for nuclear energy as a driver of the clean energy transition, showcasing good practices from countries with longstanding experience operating nuclear power plants and exploring pathways for countries that wish to embark on nuclear programmes.

An event devoted to financing the low-carbon energy transition in Asia and the Pacific will share insights into best practices in transition finance, blended finance, de-risking strategies and capacity building with the aim of empowering stakeholders in emerging markets and developing economies in the region.

The IAEA will be at an event on aligning food systems, nutrition and climate action to explore creating synergies to amplify collective impact. 

The IAEA will announce a new joint publication on SDG 13 (Climate Action) with the UN Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) at an event on accelerating South-South and triangular cooperation..

Find out more about our events at COP29 here.

Today the Chairman of the Committee for Environmental Protection of the Republic of Tajikistan, Bahodur Sheralizoda, hosted a high-level event on bridging the financial gap to address climate change and foster glacier preservation.

“We must recognize that climate change is not siloed in the environmental sector alone,” Sheralizoda said. “It is intertwined in economy, infrastructure, health and overall wellbeing of people.”

Glaciers are retreating at unprecedented rates, threatening global water supplies. Adapting to these changes requires investments in strengthening early warning systems, improving water management and building resilient agricultural systems able to cope with variability in water availability. 

Tajikistan is a global leader in glacier preservation efforts. The IAEA and Tajikistan have worked together on monitoring glacial retreat and its impact on soil and water resources, and they plan to expand this collaboration.

“What we bring to the table through isotopic hydrology is the capacity for countries to understand what the problem is and its intensity,” said IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi. “We know the problem exists, but we need to know the pace, the dimension and other factors so we can help policymakers tailor-make their decisions to protect glacier water.”

“SMRs can be game-changers for sustainable power, meeting needs from district heating to AI data centers, while decarbonizing industries like steel and petrochemicals,” said IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi at an event today on ‘Accelerating Early Deployment of Small Modular Reactors’ co-organized by the IAEA and the United States of America. The event focused on ways to speed up implementation of SMR projects, which the IAEA estimates will comprise a quarter of new nuclear capacity by 2050.

Speakers from the U.S. Government, Google, the South Korean steel manufacturer POSCO and the IAEA discussed infrastructure and regulatory hurdles that need to be overcome to enable faster rollout of SMRs. They also highlighted how stakeholders, including end users and vendors, are navigating these challenges.

“Not only are utilities stepping up, but large end users from the IT sector, and heavy manufacturing. Utilities and developers are on the ground helping with development,” said Ali Zaidi, Assistant to the U.S. President and National Climate Advisor. “In the US we have relied on utilities to carry these technologies forward, and what we’re seeing now is the first adaptors, companies like Google, working in partnership with developers.”

The event highlighted new partnerships, including a deal between Google and Kairos Power to deploy 500 MW of SMR capacity by 2035, and emerging opportunities for financing.

Good, thought-provoking exchange with leaders like ???????? @ClimateAtState @alizaidi46, ???????? POSCO’s VP Kim Hee-hee and @Google’s Sustainability Director Antonia Gawel. Thanks for your commitment to a cleaner energy future. pic.twitter.com/bW99pLLhpt

— Rafael MarianoGrossi (@rafaelmgrossi) November 13, 2024

“At COP29 in Baku, the world must discuss concrete steps to get nuclear from consensus to construction—and financing is central to making that happen…

“Over the past five COP meetings, nuclear has gone from the sidelines to being part of the solution. At COP29, it’s time to shift from agreeing what’s needed to finding ways of getting it done.

Read IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi’s views in his latest LinkedIn article: https://atoms.iaea.org/40DHS55.

On Wednesday, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi will address a high-level event hosted by the COP29 Presidency on “Financing Low Carbon Technology, including Nuclear Energy.” This event will discuss the financing options needed for the massive expansion of low-carbon technology deployment in developed countries as well as in emerging markets and developing economies. Mr. Grossi will highlight the crucial role of governments, multilateral development banks and the private sector in scaling up nuclear energy. 

Mr. Grossi will also co-host a high-level event with Mr. John Podesta, Senior Advisor to the U.S. President for International Climate Policy, on accelerating deployment of small modular reactors (SMRs), which offer flexible, cost-effective options for powering small energy grids, making them suitable for developing countries as well as energy-intensive industries and data centers. Featured speakers will include: Mr. Herbert Krapa, Minister of State, Ministry of Energy of Ghana; Ms. Kim Hee, Executive Vice President, Head of the Carbon Neutrality Strategy Office, POSCO; and Ms. Antonia Gawel, Global Director for Sustainability and Partnerships at Google.  

Mr. Grossi will also join the Minister of Environment of the Republic of Tajikistan and other high-level speakers at an event on bridging the financial gap to address climate change and foster glacier preservation. The IAEA and Tajikistan have collaborated on monitoring glacial retreat and the impacts of climate change on soil and water resources.    

Other IAEA events tomorrow will focus on introducing and expanding nuclear programmes and SMRs for Arctic sustainable development.  

Find more about our events at COP29 here. 

The IAEA and LinkedIn entered into a partnership at COP29 that will benefit the nuclear energy workforce, including women in STEM, by supporting capacity building and workforce development. The partnership will provide training and research opportunities, and access to LinkedIn’s extensive global network. The agreement was signed by IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi and the co-founder of LinkedIn, Allen Blue, in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Tuesday.

“To achieve our goals and tackle the unprecedented challenges the world is facing, we need the right people. We need experts and leaders with fresh perspectives and skills,” said Mr Grossi. “LinkedIn’s vast network and insights will help us connect with those qualified people.”

This partnership aims to develop a more skilled, diverse and sustainable global workforce in the STEM and nuclear sectors. Women from around the world have already benefited from the IAEA’s Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship and Lise Meitner Programmes. Under the new Practical Arrangement, LinkedIn will offer career development training sessions to fellows and IAEA staff. It will also give the IAEA access to workforce trends and data in the nuclear field.

Follow the IAEA’s LinkedIn page here. You can read the full story here.

Nuclear techniques were in the spotlight at a high-level event today on decarbonizing the cotton-to-clothing value chain. IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi joined prominent speakers from governments, international organizations, financing institutions and the private sector in addressing the event.

Co-organized with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), World Trade Organization (WTO) and the Government of Pakistan, the event focused on multi-sectoral partnerships for promoting innovative technologies, policies and models to decarbonize the cotton sector and strengthen resilience to climate change.

In countries such as Azerbaijan, Burkina Faso and Pakistan, millions of farmers depend on cotton for a living, yet the crop is highly vulnerable to climate fluctuations. That’s why these and other countries are working with the IAEA and FAO to develop and introduce new, more climate-resilient varieties of cotton using nuclear techniques.

“Through nuclear techniques we develop seeds that are stronger, that can grow even in drought conditions, and that are more reliable and have a higher production yield,” according to Mr. Grossi.

Multi-stakeholder efforts like the “Cotton Partnership,” which also involves financial institutions and the private sector, are crucial to supporting the whole cotton value chain. In the words of Ms. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director General of the World Trade Organization, “We are doing win-win-win – winning at the production level having smart agriculture, the transformation level that also creates jobs, and the export level having smart trade procedures that use less emissions.”

Proud to share achievements in building climate resilience in cotton production w/ nuclear techniques at #COP29 @IAEAorg, @FAO, @UNIDO, @WTO, @GovtofPakistan event. Successes in Azerbaijan & Pakistan show how nuclear supports sustainable growth & higher yields in cotton farming. pic.twitter.com/CNoBSBv44y

— Rafael MarianoGrossi (@rafaelmgrossi) November 12, 2024

The COP29 climate conference has kicked off in Baku, Azerbaijan and the IAEA is once again present to discuss all the ways that nuclear science and technology can help in the fight against climate change. 

On Tuesday, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi will take the stage with high-level representatives from UNIDO, the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Trade Organization and prominent speakers from governments, the private sector and financial institutions in an event on “Decarbonizing and Adapting the Cotton-to-Clothing Value Chain through Multisectoral Partnerships.” This event will highlight how innovative policies, technologies and partnerships can help decarbonize the cotton sector while building resilience to climate change.

You can also join our "Ask the IAEA" session on climate change and nuclear energy featuring IAEA experts at the Atoms4Climate pavilion.

Find more about our events at COP29 here.

Small modular reactors (#SMRs) offer a promising path for accelerating the clean energy transition. Kicking off #COP29 today, we engaged in an event on financing SMRs for this transition, organized by @EFIFoundation, @cleanaircatf and @NTI_WMD. pic.twitter.com/CvF1ei88Z7

— IAEA - International Atomic Energy Agency ⚛️ (@iaeaorg) November 11, 2024

Hello and welcome to the IAEA's coverage of COP29!

Over the next two weeks, the IAEA will host and participate in dozens of events highlighting contributions that nuclear energy, science and technology can make to climate action.

On 12 and 13 November, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi will join high-level officials for discussions on issues such as decarbonizing the cotton sector, financing nuclear energy and the flexible, cost-effective options for energy generation that small modular reactors offer.

The IAEA’s Atoms4Climate pavilion in the Blue Zone will provide a meeting and networking space for stakeholders from all sectors to explore the potential of nuclear solutions to climate-related challenges. The pavilion will feature an exhibit on nuclear applications in four key areas: energy, food, the oceans and water, and IAEA experts will be on hand to answer questions.

Stay tuned for the latest on IAEA activities at COP29! Find more information about IAEA events here.

Throughout 2024, the IAEA has been building on the global consensus that emerged at COP28, where the Global Stocktake marked a historic turning point with its call for accelerating the deployment of nuclear energy, along with other low-emission technologies, to help achieve deep and rapid decarbonization.

The first-ever Nuclear Energy Summit, hosted in Brussels by the IAEA and the Government of Belgium in March, brought together leaders from more than 30 countries to reaffirm their commitment to nuclear energy as a way to reduce carbon emissions and meet development goals.

At the IAEA General Conference in September, the Agency co-hosted an event with Azerbaijan, holder of the COP29 Presidency, to further build on the momentum for nuclear energy. IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi highlighted global support for nuclear power in mitigating climate change, and the IAEA’s commitment to partner with the COP29 Presidency and other stakeholders to advance climate action. Speakers from Azerbaijan discussed their country’s ambitious objectives for COP29.

At COP29, the IAEA will continue to promote nuclear energy’s potential to help achieve net-zero carbon emissions.

COP29 will continue build on  the global consensus that emerged at last year’s climate change conference. At COP28, the Global Stocktake marked a historic turning point, calling for the deployment of nuclear energy to be accelerated to help reach net zero goals.

Read more about the increasingly prominent role nuclear power is playing in the clean energy transition, and what we can expect from this year’s climate change conference here.

The IAEA COP29 media kit is now available. It includes key messages, web stories, videos, b-roll and high-resolution images that can help the media report on how nuclear energy, science and technology can contribute to climate change mitigation, adaptation and monitoring, as well as how the IAEA helps countries tackle climate-related challenges in four key areas: energy, food, the oceans and water.

Welcome to the IAEA COP29 Highlights! Check in for frequent updates on IAEA activities throughout COP29 because we’re going to be busy!

IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi will join global leaders and stakeholders in Baku on 12-13 November to promote the potential of nuclear energy to help reduce carbon emissions and how nuclear science and technology can build resilience to climate change. We’ll be featuring his activities here.

In some 40 events throughout COP29, the IAEA will showcase nuclear solutions for climate action in four key areas – energy, food, the ocean and water. We’ll be covering many of these events here, so check in regularly for news and updates.

If you’re taking part in COP29 in Baku, please stop by the IAEA’s Atoms4Climate pavilion to learn how nuclear energy, science and technology can help tackle the impacts of climate change. You can learn more about this here too.

We’ll be updating our Highlights throughout COP29 with fresh information, photos, social media posts and more.

Check out the full story on IAEA activities at COP29 here.

The 68th annual IAEA General Conference is coming to a close, with final discussions around possible resolutions likely to last into the evening.

This year, almost 3000 participants registered for the conference, including 2671 Member State representatives. There was the highest number of representatives from international organizations and non-governmental organizations to date. Delegates from 150 of the 178 IAEA Member States attended.

You can find a comprehensive roundup of the week’s activities in our Week in Review article.

Nearly 3000 participants took part in the IAEA’s 68th General Conference in Vienna this week, with an additional 8700 people joining online. The conference sets the course of the Agency's work for the coming year, as it seeks to use nuclear science and technology to improve lives worldwide. Watch the IAEA’s video news summary of the week.

Could you listen to a delegate talking about nuclear issues in Arabic while relating their words live in Chinese at the same time? The UN’s impressive team of interpreters at the VIC do this for the General Conference and over 700 other meetings each year.

Delegates at the GC can listen to key debates live in the six official UN languages thanks to the skills of the Interpretation Section at the United Nations Office in Vienna. They provide an almost-real time interpretation services in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish, as well as other languages.

In this case, in order to deal with the nuclear-specific terminology at the general conference, the UN interpreters received detailed training from the IAEA’s internal language team in advance.

Together the 75 UN interpreters and 70 IAEA translators, have been providing language services for the GC plenary and other key meetings, 29 in total over 5 days, often back-to-back until midnight.  

In total, the IAEA team alone translated over 1 million words for the General Conference!

This included official documents, news articles, daily summaries and draft resolutions, to ensure that all documents were available in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.

This dedication from both teams of polyglots allows for real-time communication among delegates and ensures that participants have all the correct information available, irrespective of their native language.

Around 100 participants from 50 countries attended a Senior Safety and Security Regulators’ Meeting to discuss how regulators can enable countries to adopt innovative technologies, while still ensuring the highest levels of safety and security. At the first session delegates discussed how to build and strengthen regulatory safety and security infrastructure in the context of evolving nuclear and radiation technologies. The importance of establishing radiation safety infrastructure within Member States as a prerequisite for participating in the IAEA Rays of Hope: Cancer Care for All initiative was also addressed. During the second session, participants discussed the legal and regulatory challenges for the deployment of floating nuclear power plants and tried to identify a way forward. 

Pleased to open #IAEAGC Senior Safety and Security Regulators' Meeting on evolving regulatory safety and security infrastructure with nuclear and radiation tech development, including regulation of floating NPPs. @IAEAorg greatly values the work of regulatory bodies worldwide. pic.twitter.com/XhpeIAMsHJ

— Rafael MarianoGrossi (@rafaelmgrossi) September 19, 2024

AFRA members must work closely with the IAEA to help resolve Africa’s energy needs, to promote new opportunities in nuclear education, to mitigate the effects of climate change and to strengthen radiation protection, representatives at the 35th AFRA meeting heard.   

The African Regional Cooperative Agreement for Research, Development and Training Related to Nuclear Science and Technology (AFRA) plays a key role in promoting the peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology in Africa.

Forty participants joined the meeting held on the margins of the General Conference. An additional 30 attendees joined virtually. AFRA’s membership comprises 37 countries.  Delegates from four donor countries — Brazil, China, Japan and Sweden — as well as a representative of the European Union also participated in the annual meeting to better understand how additional resources might multiply the impact of IAEA activities in the region. 

During the 68th IAEA General Conference, six Country Programme Frameworks were signed with Armenia, Bulgaria, Cuba, Iraq, Oman and Saudi Arabia. A Country Programme Frameworks (CPF) outlines the medium-term plan for technical cooperation between a country and the IAEA, typically for a span covering four to six years. In CPFs, countries identify thematic priority areas for support to help guarantee that technical cooperation projects match up with their national development goals. CPFs strengthen ties between countries and the IAEA and allow countries to take greater ownership of activities, ensuring the relevance of support and sustainability of impact. 

The IAEA and Azerbaijan, holder of the COP29 Presidency, have held an event to build on the global nuclear energy momentum established at last year’s climate change conference.

IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi spoke on the global support for nuclear power in mitigating climate change, and the commitment of the IAEA to partner with the Presidency and other stakeholders to maintain momentum on climate action.

Speakers from Azerbaijan including Elchin Allahverdiyev, Senior Negotiator of the COP29 Presidency, discussed the actions are required to fulfil their ambitious COP objectives.

COP28 was held in the UAE, COP29 will be held in Azerbaijan and COP30 is planned for Brazil.

Ricardo Maschietto Ayrosa, Deputy Permanent Representative of Brazil to the IAEA and Hamad Alkaabi, Permanent Representative of the UAE to the IAEA, joined the other speakers in a discussion on the role of the ‘Troika’ in facilitating collaboration among the COP28, COP29 and COP30 Presidencies to promote climate action continuity.    

????Spotted at #IAEAGC: #ScientificForum attendees flip through the pages of our freshly released #Atoms4Food Bulletin.
Read the full issue online and dive into the science behind nuclear innovations in food and agriculture.
????https://t.co/ATD9S5ouQQ pic.twitter.com/RJmr1xtZzw

— IAEA - International Atomic Energy Agency ⚛️ (@iaeaorg) September 19, 2024

The results of successful IAEA technical cooperation projects to analyze, transfer and store radioactive waste left from historic nuclear activities were shared by representatives of Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine at an IAEA General Conference side event.

“Safety and stabilization measures implemented in recent years have provided safe storage of radioactive waste,” said Kseniia Kostiuchenko, Central Enterprise for Radioactive Waste Management of Ukraine. “The IAEA technical cooperation programme plays a vital role in supporting Ukraine’s efforts to manage radioactive waste,” she added.

Managing legacy waste often poses challenges due to the uncertain nature of its characteristics and storage conditions. With IAEA support through the technical cooperation progamme, many countries in Europe and Central Asia have been able to tackle these challenges and make progress in managing their legacy radioactive waste inventories.

The side event also provided a platform for participants to learn effective waste management strategies and consider international collaboration opportunities to address legacy radioactive waste inventories on a global scale.

See an example of earlier IAEA support to monitor radiation at contaminated uranium legacy sites in Central Asia. 

Read the full story.

We’re in the home stretch here at the VIC, with most of the 100+ side events already held and deliberations on resolutions entering their last phase. Keep an eye out today for our Week in Review story, a short video summing up the conference, and our selection of all the best photos from the week - all planned for publication later today. In the meantime, you can catch up on the biggest news from yesterday in our Daily Highlight – Day 4 article. Enjoy the last day!

Eleven countries were newly elected to serve on the 35-member IAEA Board of Governors for the 2024-2025 period. The newly elected Board members are : Argentina, Colombia, Egypt, Italy, Luxembourg, Georgia, Ghana, Morocco, Pakistan, Thailand and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. 

Read the full story.

It’s been another eventful day at the 68th IAEA General Conference, with 11 countries elected to serve on the new 35-member IAEA Board of Governors for the 2024–2025 period. Today delegates visited the IAEA’s Nuclear Security Training and Demonstration Centre. At another event, newcomer nuclear countries had the chance to learn about IAEA support to strengthen their regulatory infrastructure.

Here are the highlights from Day 4

General conference delegates have just completed a tour of the Nuclear Security Training and Demonstration Centre at the IAEA laboratories in Seibersdorf – getting a close look at how we help countries strengthen their nuclear security regimes.  

Since it opened at the end of last year, the centre has hosted 50 events, with 700 participants and 200 experts, from nearly 100 countries.  

The visit included a tour to the Demonstration Control Centre, which is a simulation of the central alarm station found at nuclear facilities, and the Physical Protection Demonstration Room where hands-on training on the state-of-the-art physical protection technologies is conducted.  

If you missed the tour, then watch this video to learn more about the important work of the centre to combat nuclear terrorism. 

???? Delegates hopped on the #IAEAGC tour bus to Seibersdorf, near Vienna, where they visited the IAEA's Nuclear Security Training and Demonstration Centre. There, they got an up-close look at how we help countries strengthen their nuclear security regimes. https://t.co/aRBBttZLKQ pic.twitter.com/p2MNAgUzyK

— IAEA - International Atomic Energy Agency ⚛️ (@iaeaorg) September 20, 2024

Support for nuclear regulators in newcomer countries was enhanced yesterday at the IAEA’s Regulatory Cooperation Forum.

A new strategic plan was presented which focuses on enhancing support for regulatory infrastructure development and assistance for embarking countries, including those considering Small Modular Reactors.

“This meeting plays an important role in facilitating the coordination and exchange of information among nuclear safety regulators and in optimizing resources among forum members,” said Anna Bradford, IAEA Director of Nuclear Installation Safety Divisionin her opening remarks.

Learn more about the IAEA’s Regulatory Cooperation Forum.

The ‘Sharing Experience of Communities Hosting Nuclear Facilities’ side event featured speakers from governments in Argentina, Canada, Hungary, Japan, and the United States of America sharing valuable perspectives on the role of local communities and how they can cooperate effectively with other stakeholder groups, including those in government and nuclear industry.

Facilitating transparent, direct communication through continuous, open dialogue among stakeholders is essential for the long-term sustainability of nuclear power programmes. Communities hosting nuclear facilities, or who are being considered for a future project, can have a diverse range of concerns and needs that should be understood and addressed in order to foster trust throughout facilities’ life cycles.

During a side event experts gathered to explore strategies to enhance postgraduate training in nuclear science and technology at African universities, to produce the next generation of nuclear scientists.

Africa holds vast potential in nuclear science and technology, but unlocking this potential depends on  developing a critical mass of highly skilled young scientists across the continent.

Central to the discussion was the need to empower young scientists by improving academic programmes and fostering regional partnerships. The dialogue underscored the importance of capacity building, increased training opportunities and knowledge exchange as critical elements for Africa’s long-term leadership and sustainability in the nuclear field. Read the full story.

The IAEA has entered into strategic partnership agreements with three companies in the field of dosimetry and quality assurance as part of efforts to enhance access to radiation medicine for cancer care. Signed under the umbrella of the IAEA’s Rays of Hope initiative, the agreements with IBA Dosimetry, PTW-Freiburg and Standard Imaging will enhance access to calibration and dosimetry services and will strengthen training in quality assurance and dosimetry for low and middle income countries.

Contributions from all three — which include dosimetry and quality assurance tools, alongside substantial support through cost-free or significantly subsidized vendor-agnostic training — will be instrumental in enhancing the training and research capabilities of Rays of Hope Anchor Centres and hospitals around the world. During the signing ceremony, which took place during the IAEA’s 68th General Conference, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said: “I'm proud the IAEA is collaborating with IBA Dosimetry, PTW-Freiburg and Standard Imaging to improve access to radiation medicine where it is needed most. Collaboration makes the most of our strengths in our shared effort to support communities in the fight against diseases like cancer."

Meet Nougat, Micki, Creed and Bruce! Key members of the detection team at the United Nations Security and Safety Service.  

Together with their skilled handlers, the dogs perform sweeps at our headquarters in the Vienna International Centre, using their super-powered noses to provide the security team with unmatched precision and skill. They work quietly in the background to keep staff, visitors and #IAEAGC delegates safe.

“If you see us on patrol, don’t hesitate to say hello to our four-legged partners. Your safety, your security, is our priority,”  says the United Nations Security and Safety Service. 🐾

Hello again and welcome to Day 4 of the IAEA General Conference. Please see the highlights from yesterday here. Today some delegates are heading out to Seibersdorf for a tour of our incredible labs there, and others are checking out the IAEA archives for a trip down memory lane, or the Incident and Emergency Centre to see how the Agency provides support during a crisis. Meanwhile, important discussions continue in the plenary and the Committee of the Whole, setting the direction for the Agency’s work. 

As usual, we will bring you highlights from the day as they happen. 

We are now wrapping up Day 3 of the IAEA’s General Conference. The IAEA’s two-day Scientific Forum, on the theme of  Atoms4Food – Better Agriculture for Better Life concluded with discussions on how partnerships can create a more sustainable impact in improving global agrifood systems. A new Anchor Centre officially joined the Rays of Hope: Cancer Care for All initiative and Liberia and South Africa joined multiple multilateral treaties under IAEA auspices. For a look back at today’s events, go to our Day 3 Highlights.

At the annual Treaty Event on the sidelines of the 68th General Conference, Liberia and South Africa joined multiple multilateral treaties under IAEA auspices. Liberia pledged its commitment to nuclear safety and security by depositing instruments expressing consent to be bound by six legal instruments. South Africa deposited an instrument of acceptance of the African Regional Co-operative Agreement for Research, Development and Training Related to Nuclear Science and Technology (AFRA), established by African Member States to strengthen the contribution of nuclear science and technology to socioeconomic development on the African continent. 

Read the full story

Opened the @WiNglobal booth at #IAEAGC—#NuclearNeedsWomen, and the future of nuclear must be inclusive and diverse to thrive. Let’s keep breaking down barriers and championing diversity. If you're at the VIC, make sure to visit and see how they're driving change! pic.twitter.com/J5eWjrj9FY

— Rafael MarianoGrossi (@rafaelmgrossi) September 18, 2024

IAEA radiation safety experts have once again opened the doors to the Radiation Safety Technical Services Laboratory during the General Conference, showing visitors the equipment and techniques used to protect more than 3000 occupationally-exposed workers per year.  

If you missed the chance to join the tour in person, visit the laboratory on a virtual tour! 

Workers involved in IAEA activities, such as technical cooperation events and peer review missions that involve visits to nuclear power plants, research reactors and other sites that contain nuclear and radioactive material, are sent to the laboratory for internal and external radiation monitoring. This helps to ensure their exposure does not go above safe levels, complying with the recommendations of IAEA General Safety Requirements.  

The visitors to the tour learned about the IAEA’s state-of-the-art technology that can detect, identify and measure radioactive material in and on the human body. This includes the whole-body counter (pictured) — a large and sophisticated steel chamber with high resolution detectors that electronically measure the photon radiation emitted from inside a person.  

They also visited the radiochemistry and in-vitro monitoring laboratories for processing and measuring radionuclides in urine, faeces and saliva, as well as the external dosimetry laboratory, where personal dosimeters are assembled, issued and read. These techniques provide other essential radiation safety services for monitoring internal and external radiation exposure.  

Today, the IAEA showcased how machine learning and similar technologies can be used to collate millions of nuclear documents. 

There is a vast array of published information on nuclear science and technology topics. Since 1970, the IAEA has played a pivotal role in managing many of these publications through its International Nuclear Information System (INIS). The INIS Repository, supported by literature contributions from Member States and international organizations, contains over four million bibliographic records and provides access to more than two million full text documents. Many Member States also have considerable nuclear information archives, and efficiently organizing all of this material can be a challenge.  

In focus was INIS’s NADIA project, which is used to help categorize and index the INIS Repository’s extensive archives. Other applications of NADIA were also discussed, including for uses outside the IAEA’s portfolio. Advanced techniques such as Retrieval-Augmented Generation and large language models were also examined, with in-depth discussions on these nascent technologies.   

Host communities are a key protagonist in the nuclear story. At #IAEAGC we highlighted their role in energy transitions and the strong support for the facilities they host. We need even broader local backing—the world needs more ‘Yes in my backyard’ for nuclear to thrive! pic.twitter.com/d7jzeCbHMx

— Rafael MarianoGrossi (@rafaelmgrossi) September 18, 2024

The IAEA’s 10-year vision to update safety standards for advanced nuclear power plants was presented today. This vision is underpinned by a recent report on the applicability of safety standards to innovative technologies. The event also showcased ongoing work at the IAEA on both the safety of advanced reactor technologies (including high-temperature gas-cooled reactors, liquid metal-cooled fast reactors, molten salt reactors, floating NPPs, and fusion energy facilities) and the safety considerations for cross-cutting innovations such as passive safety, artificial intelligence, and advanced manufacturing. 

The panel stressed that the Agency’s work on the safety of advanced reactors will require strong support from its Member States to achieve the 10-year vision presented at the event, and that this will be an enabler for the future of nuclear power. 

Proud to witness the growth from 5 to 10 #RaysOfHope Anchor Centres centres since our last #IAEAGC.
Today, we welcomed ???????? @IR_Ramathibodi & I look forward to seeing how our efforts in training, innovation, and quality management will continue to strengthen cancer care ????. pic.twitter.com/i8To6DmIp6

— Rafael MarianoGrossi (@rafaelmgrossi) September 18, 2024

Today, delegates were shown a demonstration of how the State Declarations Portal can make their safeguards correspondence simpler to deliver, by providing a direct line of communication with the IAEA. 

The portal eases the submission and receipt of declarations and other reports through a secure, multi-layered channel, ensuring timely and efficient communication, and streamlining exchange between countries and the IAEA Department of Safeguards.

“Currently, 117 state and regional authorities use the State Declarations Portal on a regular basis,” said the IAEA’s Jess Border during the event. “By reducing paper-based processes and enhancing institutional memory, the portal has significantly improved both the efficiency and security of safeguards-related information exchange with the IAEA.”

Find out more about the State Declarations Portal here.

More than 65 national representatives from Latin America and the Caribbean joined their IAEA counterparts in an annual meeting that discussed how participation in the IAEA’s flagship initiatives —such as NUTEC Plastics, Rays of Hope, ZODIAC and Atoms4Food—can multiply the impact of the Agency’stargeted support.   

Held on the margins of the General Conference, 

the 25th Meeting of the Regional Cooperation Agreement for the Promotion of Nuclear Science and Technology in Latin America and the Caribbean (ARCAL) provided an opportunity for delegates to present the most noteworthy achievements realized through technical cooperation projects implemented under the agreement.   

Learn more about ARCAL 

Global experts shared their experience in using energy modelling to drive progress on reaching net zero at a side event today. 

Achieving net zero emissions by 2050 will require significant energy system transformations backed by rigorous planning. Energy modelling studies that consider factors including cost, human resource requirements and numerous country-specific elements are key for countries to determine what their clean energy mix will look like.  

The IAEA’s Atoms4NetZero initiative supports countries in their decision-making process through energy scenario modelling and techno-economic studies that include the full potential of nuclear power in contributing to net zero. 

The event, entitled ‘Powering the Future through Atoms4NetZero’ side event also examined a case study on reaching net zero in Estonia, using the IAEA’s Model for Energy Supply System Alternatives and their General Environmental Impacts (MESSAGE).

The IAEA has laid out the ways it is helping to build the future nuclear workforce - as the field is expected to need an additional one million people within the next decade. 

To meet these needs and make significant nuclear power expansion feasible, capacity building and human resource development must be central components of long-term energy planning strategies. 

At the ‘Creating the Future Global Nuclear Workforce through Exchange and Practice: Lise Meitner Programme and Beyond’ side event earlier today, IAEA experts provided an overview of support offered by the Agency, including Knowledge Management Assist Visits, the International Nuclear Management Academy initiative and other human resource development activities. The event also highlighted flagship projects including the Lise Meitner Programme, which was launched in 2023 to provide early- and mid-career women professionals with opportunities to participate in a visiting professional programme and bolster their technical and soft skills, as well as the Open-source Nuclear Codes for Reactor Analysis (ONCORE) initiative, a framework for simulation tools which supports research, education and training for the analysis of advanced nuclear power reactors. 

Delegates have been briefed on the successes of the Safeguards Traineeship Programme and the new IAEA TechTrack initiative for young professionals. 

For over 40 years, the Safeguards Traineeship Programme has provided young people with hands-on experience in IAEA safeguards. Since its launch, 185 trainees from 77 countries have participated. In particular, the traineeship targets those from countries with limited nuclear fuel cycles, and that are recipients of IAEA technical assistance.  

Building on this success, the IAEA introduced a new initiative to delegates – Techtrack – offering young professionals from diverse backgrounds the chance to gain practical experience in specific technical areas relevant to nuclear verification.  

 "TechTrack will not only equip young people with vital skills related to safeguards, but also strengthen the IAEA's talent pipeline for recruiting the next generation of the global nuclear workforce," said Anita Nikoleska, Associate Planning and Coordination Officer in the IAEA Department of Safeguards, during the event. 

Learn more about the Safeguards Traineeship Programme. 

From seed banks to nuclear medicine to cultural heritage – delegates from the Arab States in Asia have been discussing the achievements of over 60 IAEA cooperation projects over the last 20 years.

At the annual meeting for the Cooperative Agreement for Arab States in Asia for Research, Development and Training related to Nuclear Science and Technology (ARASIA), participants reviewed the successes since the agreement’s adoption and planned future technical cooperation activities in the region.  IAEA Deputy Director General Hua Liu also launched a new nuclear medicine reference document at the meeting.

The SMR Platform: Advances in Nuclear Technology Developments for Microreactors side event today explored recent advances in microreactor development as well as security aspects and ‘safeguards by design’ approaches. The newly redesigned Advanced Reactor Information System, the IAEA’s database of evolutionary and innovative reactor design descriptions, was also presented. Microreactors, which are generally designed to produce no more than 20 MW(e), could help meet the electricity needs of remote communities and power numerous non-electric applications including desalination and chemical production.

Hello and welcome to Day 3 of the IAEA’s General Conference. Today is the second and final day of the Agency’s premier side event – the Scientific Forum, focused on ways nuclear techniques help combat global hunger. You can attend in person or follow on the livestream. The open plenary debate between Member States will carry on continues, as will the closed discussions in the Committee of the Whole.

Our range of exciting side events also continue, from the annual treaty signing event, to discussions on SMRs, a trainee programme for Safeguards, and a presentation of the impact of our flagship cancer initiative Rays of Hope. See here for all today’s side events.

Keep checking this blog throughout the day for updates, photo essays, videos and more.

We are now wrapping up Day 2 of the IAEA’s General Conference. Today hundreds of people packed out the room for the opening of the IAEA’s two-day Scientific Forum, on the theme of  Atoms4Food – Better Agriculture for Better Life. There was a chance to find out more about safeguards and diversity at today’s side events, as well as learn how artificial intelligence is being used to support the nuclear power industry at the Nuclear Operators’ Forum. For a look back at today’s events, go to our Day 2 Highlights here.

The IAEA Scientific Forum 2024 kicked off today under the theme Atoms4Food: Better Agriculture for a Better Life. Running alongside the IAEA’s 68th General Conference, the Forum opened with a packed house of over 260 participants, including ministers and food experts from around the world. IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi set the tone, highlighting the urgency of the global food crisis and how nuclear technology can offer real solutions. “Countries don’t need more speeches—they need solutions,” he emphasized, pointing to the IAEA’s Atoms4Food initiative, which uses nuclear science to improve agriculture.

From drought-resistant crops to advanced water management, these innovations are designed to boost productivity and sustainability. Key speakers like Abdulhamid Alkhalifa from the OPEC Fund and Musalia Mudavadi, Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary, echoed this sentiment. They stressed the importance of partnerships and innovation, particularly in vulnerable regions like Africa, where food security is a major challenge. As the Forum continues, the conversation will dive deeper into the role of nuclear science in creating a more resilient global food system. Read the full report of the day here. Stayed tuned on Wednesday by following the livesteam!

At a side event entitled "COMPASS: The Story So Far", participants discussed how the initiative continues to strengthen national authorities responsible for safeguards implementation (SRAs) and state systems of accounting for and control of nuclear material (SSACs). 

Cooperation between States and the IAEA is vital to ensuring nuclear safeguards are implemented effectively and efficiently. In 2020, IAEA Director General, Rafael Mariano Grossi launched the Comprehensive Capacity-Building Initiative for SSACs and SRAs (COMPASS), which provides tailored assistance to help countries meet their nuclear verification obligations. 

Key speakers included Augustin Simo, Director General of Cameroon’s National Radiation Protection Agency, and Nii Kwashie Allotey, Director General of Ghana’s Nuclear Regulatory Authority. Both leaders shared their experiences with COMPASS, highlighting achievements and lessons learned, and demonstrating the initiative’s practical benefits. 

“COMPASS offers us the opportunity to strengthen Ghana’s national safeguards infrastructure”, said Dr. Nii Kwashie Allotey, Director General of the Ghanaian Nuclear Regulatory Authority, during the event. “We are optimistic that COMPASS will fill in the gaps, and allow for more effective and efficient verification of the country’s nuclear safeguards commitments.”

Find more information on COMPASS here.

The IAEA has hosted a panel discussion to showcase how nuclear security networks successfully build capacity and collaboration. 

“While the responsibility for a State’s nuclear security regime rests entirely with that Sstate, the IAEA has a vital role providing an inclusive platform for global cooperation in nuclear security. Establishing networks as communities of practice is part of our efforts to further strengthen international cooperation for nuclear security,” said Lydie Evrard, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Nuclear Safety and Security.

The invited event panelists represented the International Network of Front Line Officers and Organizations for Nuclear Security Detection (FLO Network), the International Nuclear Security Education Network (INSEN), and the International Network for Nuclear Security Training and Support Centres (NSSC Network).

IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi has opened a Secretariat exhibition which showcases how the IAEA is making the most of cutting edge technology to advance the Agency’s mission, enhance operational efficiency and enable meaningful collaboration between Member States.

The Director General was joined by Ambassador Ian Biggs of Australia, who highlighted Australia’s experience as a contributor and user of systems and databases such as MARIS and nuclear data platforms. 

The Leveraging Technology: Digital Platforms for Collaboration and Information Exchange exhibition is located at the ground floor of M Building and is available throughout the week. Visitors can interact with some of the state-of-the art digital platforms developed by the IAEA.

At the @IAEAorg, we are committed to ensuring technology enhances efficiency and strengthens our support for Member States. Great to see the innovative work on display at the Division of Information Technology (MTIT) booth at #IAEAGC! pic.twitter.com/0V1NBmEfzk

— Rafael MarianoGrossi (@rafaelmgrossi) September 17, 2024

Non-nuclear power countries have been learning how to manage the spent fuel from research reactors, as well as disused sealed radioactive sources, at a General Conference side event. Today’s event provided an overview of the factors that go into deciding on spent fuel and source management options, including the cost, environmental impact and human resource requirements, and demonstrated how IAEA tools can help simplify these decisions.

The IAEA has developed several tools, including Back End Research Reactor Integrated Decision Making Evaluation (BRIDE) and Disused Sources Integrated Decision Evaluation Support Tool (DSIDES), to assist in the process of choosing a path forward.

At the 2024 meeting of the Nuclear Operators’ Forum today, international panelists took a look at how artificial intelligence is being used to support the nuclear power industry now and in the future. 

Streamlining nuclear power plant deployments with Artificial intelligence (AI), including by automating certain tasks previously performed by operators, can help maximize nuclear power’s contribution to the clean energy transition.  

The event, held on the sidelines of the General Conference, also celebrated competition winners who developed projects for the IAEA’s International Network on Innovation to Support Operating Nuclear Power Plants.  

Winners included Justin Fernandes from Canada (Robotics & Drones), Jing Li from China (AI), Vivek Agarwal from the United States of America (Advanced Manufacturing) and Harry Strahley and Harry Sim (Other), both from the United States of America. 

Before the IAEA General Conference even started this year, 44 national representatives of 21 countries attended the annual meeting of stakeholders to the Asian Regional Cooperative Agreement. They gathered to lay the ground work before the General Conference to consider new challenges facing the region and to prepare for the implementation of the next technical cooperation cycle. 

IAEA Deputy Director General Hua Liu stressed the important of close cooperation between the Technical Cooperation programme and the Reional Cooperative Agreement. “This integration will enhance the effectiveness and reach of our efforts, enabling us to leverage our resources for maximum benefit and sustainability.”

From new disease-resistant varieties of bananas to birth control for insects, read about how nuclear techniques are helping fight world hunger, in the latest IAEA Bulletin, Atoms4Food: Nourishing the Future. 

The Bulletin reveals how nuclear science is enhancing food security through the Atoms4Food initiative, launched jointly by the IAEA and United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) last year. The initiative builds on decades of exciting research, already helping farmers grow better, more resilient crops that can withstand harsher conditions caused by climate change.  

IAEA General Conference participants have been taking out their mobile devices to explore the IAEA’s database on discharges of radionuclides to the atmosphere and the aquatic environment, at a side event that demonstrated how the recently upgraded tool supports transparency and monitoring of global discharge data.

During the event, attendees checked out data on discharges from nuclear power plants, reprocessing facilities and research reactors. The presentation showcased the accessibility and functionalities of the database, known as DIRATA, such as the data visualization map and the option to download data for further analysis.  Currently, 24 out of 34 nuclear countries voluntarily provide data on more than 500 nuclear installations for DIRATA, contributing to a comprehensive global resource for tracking discharges. The event also informed visitors on the sources of nuclear discharges and the regulations that control them.  

A tour is about to start to show delegates at the General Conference how the world responds when a nuclear or radiological crisis unfolds.
Delegates and other GC visitors have a unique chance to visit the IAEA’s Incident and Emergency Centre (IEC), which coordinates global responses to nuclear or radiological emergencies. 
Visitors will learn about the Incident and Emergency System - a dedicated team of responders on-call 24/7 to respond to emergencies globally, and all the other systems used to share information and mobilize resources.
Watch this video to learn more about how the IEC responds to emergencies, such as in the case of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident. 

Every night, around 800 million people go to bed hungry. Every 10 seconds, hunger takes the life of a child. Yet, 1/3 of food is lost or wasted.
This is an obscenity.
At this year's @IAEAorg #Atoms4Food #ScientificForum we’re exploring how nuclear science is helping change this. pic.twitter.com/MToiqmOeC9

— Rafael MarianoGrossi (@rafaelmgrossi) September 17, 2024

During a panel discussion, IAEA Safeguards staff shared how their backgrounds and personal experiences support them in fulfilling their role in implementing nuclear safeguards.

Diversity is vital for the Department of Safeguards, which relies on a global workforce with varied experiences and expertise to fulfil its nuclear verification mandate. The side event, ‘Diversity: An Essential Ingredient in Implementing Nuclear Safeguards’, highlighted how diverse perspectives enhance the Department’s effectiveness.

“The IAEA Department of Safeguards shares a commitment to foster a respectful, inclusive, and diverse workplace where all staff feel a sense of belonging,” said Massimo Aparo, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Safeguards, during the event.

The discussion emphasized how diversity nurtures innovation, broadens the talent pool, and brings together the wide range of disciplines needed to carry out safeguards activities.

Diversity is more than just a ‘box to tick’ in the Department of Safeguards and at the IAEA - it’s a critical asset that strengthens the IAEA’s capacity to do its job more effectively.  

The IAEA Scientific Forum on improving agriculture and nourishing the future has just begun, on the sidelines of the General Conference. You can watch the opening film here, to get a taste of the ways nuclear science is helping combat global hunger. 

The IAEA’s IAEA Scientific Forum: Atoms4Food – Better Agriculture for Better Life has officially begun. The Forum will explore the latest nuclear innovations in agriculture and food production, straight from an international panel of experts.  

Watch the livestream of the Scientific Forum here and look at the programme here. 

Learn how different countries promote equitable access to agricultural resources and enhance rural livelihoods using nuclear based solutions.  

The Atoms4Food Scientific Forum opened at the Vienna International Centre in Board Room D, C Building on the 4th Floor at 09:30.  

Welcome to Day 2 of the IAEA’s General Conference! The packed schedule continues this morning, with the Agency’s flagship side event – the Scientific Forum starting right now. The topic is Atoms4Food – Better Agriculture for Better Life. The event is taking place today and tomorrow in Board Room D, C building, 4th floor. Come and join us to learn about all the ways nuclear science supports sustainable agriculture. Or watch online if you’re not in the building.

That’s a wrap on the first day of the 68th IAEA General Conference. It’s been a busy and productive day, from welcoming the IAEA’s newest Member States to learning about all aspects of the IAEA’s work, from tackling climate change, to monitoring plastic pollution, helping farmers grow better crops and widening access to cancer care. Find out more about everything that happened today in our Daily Highlights article.  

Earlier this year, two IAEA scientists set out to identify the source of microplastics polluting the Antarctic. Today, at the #IAEAGC, we showcased the results of this important mission as part of the IAEA's #NUTECplastics Initiative. Read on: https://t.co/aRBBttZLKQ pic.twitter.com/rZEPMesBdK

— IAEA - International Atomic Energy Agency ⚛️ (@iaeaorg) September 16, 2024

The IAEA has received more than 36 000 registrations to e-learning courses on radiation protection in medicine, marking a 13 per cent increase since the beginning of this year alone. This growth, highlighted during the 68th IAEA General Conference side event on learning to protect patients, reflects a growing interest in training on radiation protection and safety in healthcare. 

“The education, training, qualification and competence of health professionals are fundamental to radiation protection and safety in medical uses of ionizing radiation, as outlined in IAEA safety standards,” said Chadia Rizk, IAEA Radiation Protection Specialist and e-learning course developer. “These online courses offer accessible and flexible learning, enabling an unlimited audience to access important radiation protection guidance.”  

Approximately 4.2 billion medical radiological examinations are performed annually worldwide, compared to the global population of 7.3 billion people. This underscores the need for robust safety measures and a strong safety culture in clinics and other healthcare facilities. 

The courses are designed for radiologists, radiation oncologists, medical physicists and technologists, covering topics such as radiation protection in diagnostic radiology, including radiography, computed tomography and dentistry, as well as in interventional radiology and radiotherapy. The courses also aim to empower other stakeholders, such as regulators, by providing them with the knowledge needed to ensure the safety of patients and staff in medical settings where ionizing radiation is used.  

Courses are self-paced, interactive and available in multiple languages, with certificates awarded upon completion. New e-learning courses and their translations are continually being developed. All are available via the Radiation Protection of Patients website. 

A NUTEC Plastics event gave conference delegates a chance to see the results from this year's mission to Antarctica, where two IAEA scientists set out to identify the source of microplastics polluting the Antartic and discuss the initiative's future directions. Argentine Foreign Minister Diana Mondino and the IAEA’s Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi opened the event.  Participants were introduced to a new NUTEC Plastics Portal that tracks progress, facilitates consultation and improves coordination and access to periodic progress reports for countries. They also heard unique experiences and insights from different Member States.  

Established in 2020 to fight plastic pollution with nuclear technologies, NUTEC Plastics builds on the IAEA's efforts to tackle plastic pollution with innovative recycling techniques using radiation technology and by marine monitoring using isotopic tracing techniques. Read the full story.

Check out the video on the First IAEA Antarctic Research Mission.

The International Nuclear Safety Advisory Group has just held its annual forum, this time on the topic of shaping a safe and sustainable nuclear future.  

Prior to this general conference, INSAG had formed a task group to assess the challenges and opportunities for the deployment of nuclear technology in the coming decade.  

Members of the task group have now shared their initial ideas on the safety landscape before us. The task group also engaged those attending to share their thinking and ideas on where nuclear energy and technology are headed and the possible implications for nuclear and radiation safety.  

See INSAG’s most recent publication, INSAG-28, Application of the Principle of Defence in Depth in Nuclear Safety to Small Modular Reactors. 

Thousands of delegates are at the Vienna International Centre for the general conference. 

Almost 3,000 participants from 139 countries are registered for the conference so far. Interestingly, this year also has the most ever participants from NGOs, showing how the IAEA has been growing its engagement at all levels of the society.

Experts in zoonotic diseases came together in Vienna today to discuss the ways the FAO/IAEA Joint Centre is helping to address drug resistance. The side event highlighted success stories in increasing the capacity of countries to address the challenges of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) using nuclear and related technologies. Antimicrobial Resistance includes resistance to antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals and more. The IAEA helps countries counter potential pandemics through its Zoonotic Disease Integrated Action Initiative, or ZODIAC.

Atteendees learned about the robust research and development efforts and capacity-building initiatives supporting ZODIAC's mission to strengthen global pandemic readiness. 

At the event, five young scientists from different parts of the world presented their results from a competition highlighting innovative solutions to AMR.

The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, called the IAEA’s work “more vital than ever” in his statement to the opening of the General Conference. 

In the statement, delivered by the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Vienna Ghada Fathi Waly, Guterres called on all countries to “support the Agency’s role in ensuring the strictly peaceful use of nuclear energy”. 

The Secretary-General said, “As the war continues to rage in Ukraine, the risk of an accident at a nuclear power plant remains a daily possibility that must be avoided at all costs. The IAEA continues to provide invaluable support to ensure the safety and security of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and other nuclear facilities affected by the war”.

Guterres described how the Agency continues to ensure that nuclear energy benefits people around the world, through 1,000 active technical cooperation projects worldwide. Read the full statement here.

Signed agreement with ???????? “Women & Energy Association” at #IAEAGC which will strengthen the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship Programme in Saudi Arabia. By leveraging WEA networks & resources, we aim to support more women pursuing careers in the sector—because #NuclearNeedsWomen! pic.twitter.com/MxCWU7NgXj

— Rafael MarianoGrossi (@rafaelmgrossi) September 16, 2024

Alongside all the important national deliberations taking place this week there will be almost 100 side events held by the IAEA, member countries and partners – all showcasing the latest in nuclear science and technology.  

See the full list of side events here and read more here about how the IAEA is highlighting its flagship initiatives —addressing challenges like climate change, food security, energy sustainability, zoonotic diseases and gender parity in the nuclear sector — reviewing progress, building partnerships and outlining the way forward. 

For more information on the IAEA’s other flagship initiatives please see: www.iaea.org/services/key-programmes.  

The IAEA has revised up its annual projections for the expansion of nuclear power for a fourth successive year, the Director General said in his opening statement to the General Conference today. World nuclear capacity is now projected to increase by 2.5 times the current capacity by 2050, in the IAEA’s high case scenario, including a significant contribution from small modular reactors (SMRs). The increased projections published in Energy, Electricity and Nuclear Power Estimates for the Period up to 2050, released today, aligns with the global consensus on the need to accelerate the deployment of nuclear energy. All operating reactors, potential lifetime extensions, possible power uprates, planned shutdowns and expected construction projects in the next few decades were considered in the estimates. The new publication states that achieving the high case scenario for nuclear capacity will depend on enabling factors: national policies, supporting investment, demonstration projects for new reactors, investment in grids, supply chain management, work force development, and regulatory collaboration and global harmonization – particularly for SMRs.

“Since we last gathered, social, political and ecological challenges across the world have grown no lighter. Through the IAEA’s unique mandate, we have the responsibility of addressing issues that affect all of humanity. Our priorities include reinforcing and preventing the erosion of a non-proliferation regime that has underpinned international peace and security for more than half a century; the ever-more-present existential threat of climate change, and the ongoing injustice of poverty, disease and hunger,” Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said in his written remarks to the General Conference this morning. Read the full statement here.

The general debate is about to start in the plenary. Watch it live as high-level speakers from most of the Agency’s 178 Member States deliver their statements. 

Delegates will also consider the Annual Report for 2023. 

 “I am confident that we will look back at 2023 as a milestone in the transition to net zero,” Director General Grossi says in the Annual Report forward.  Read more about the significant activities of the Agency during the past year here.  

The 68th #IAEAGC is underway.
As global challenges grow, our mission is more critical than ever: uphold non-proliferation, tackle climate change, and fight disease & hunger.
The @IAEAorg is all of us—united in a commitment to nuclear safety & security, beyond borders & tensions. pic.twitter.com/cXlP0fUYNJ

— Rafael MarianoGrossi (@rafaelmgrossi) September 16, 2024

As the 68th IAEA General Conference kicks off this morning, the IAEA Member States have now elected their new president – Ambassador Sang Wook Ham from the Republic of Korea. 

The General Conference elects a President at the beginning of each annual session, following consultations among Member States beforehand. They hold office for the duration of the conference. Read more about Ham’s extensive service with the ROK Ministry of Foreign Affairs here. IAEA General Conference Elects Korean Ambassador as Conference President

Hello and welcome to the IAEA’s first ever General Conference blog!   

The General Conference is the Agency’s most important annual event, where our Member States come together to set the direction for the IAEA’s work for the year. It is running all this week at our Vienna headquarters. 

Stay tuned to see the latest events from the week as they happen, from high level speeches to scientific side events. Read an intro to the week here.   

First up will be the main plenary opening, where the IAEA’s 178 member countries will elect a president to run the General Conference. Then our Director General Grossi will lay out his vision for the year and for the conference, before handing the floor over to the national representatives for their statements.    

You can watch the opening speech here and the ongoing statements here.   

Learn more about the GC and its role as the main decision-making organ for our members: General Conference.

Nuclear energy made history today as the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) wrapped up in the United Arab Emirates city of Dubai.

For the first time since the annual climate summits commenced in 1995, the 198 signatory countries to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) officially called for accelerating the deployment of low-emission technologies including nuclear energy to help achieve deep and rapid decarbonization, particularly in hard-to-abate sectors such as industry and through the low carbon production of hydrogen.

The appeal came in the 28th paragraph of the so-called Global Stocktake, a final agreement that assesses where the world stands on achieving the objectives of the 2015 Paris Agreement and how shortcomings might be rectified. Read the full story.

#COP28's first Global Stocktake rightly places nuclear energy as part of the solution for deep decarbonization. 
 
The @IAEAorg and I welcome this outcome. Onwards to scaling up this clean and reliable technology! pic.twitter.com/hkgVftD2BS

— Rafael MarianoGrossi (@rafaelmgrossi) December 13, 2023

After a busy two weeks highlighting the role of nuclear technology and science in climate change mitigation and adaptation at COP28, the IAEA team has packed up the Atoms4Climate pavilion and is heading back to Vienna.

Within its broad agenda for COP28, the IAEA hosted and participated in around 50 events, including to deliver a landmark statement that “Net zero needs nuclear power”, officially announce the first-ever Nuclear Energy Summit, launch a new climate adaptation project and tour a research ship that sailed from Kuwait to the United Arab Emirates, COP28 host.

Nuclear technology is no longer taboo at COP and this year’s climate change conference was a watershed moment for the only energy source along with hydropower that has demonstrated the ability to decarbonize electricity supply on a national scale. Leaders from 22 countries on four continents announced a declaration to triple global nuclear energy capacity by 2050 to meet climate goals and energy needs.

In addition to the presentation of the #Atoms4Food initiative at a Ministerial Roundtable on Climate Change and Food Security, the two weeks saw intense discussions on the innovative ways nuclear applications are providing countries with science based techniques for food, water and ocean challenges.

With nuclear power finally having its moment at COP28, and as the IAEA and nuclear advocates steadily increase their presence at the annual summit each year, IAEA staff walking out of the Blue Zone today already set about plans for COP29 in Azerbaijan.

The climate crisis has led to growing concern about the effects of a warmer and more acidic ocean on marine life and the people who depend on it. A new project launched on the margins of COP28 by the IAEA and the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) aims to contribute to ocean health by helping to fill the gaps in our knowledge of marine ecosystems.

“Without reliable data, we would not be able to understand marine environments,” said IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi at the COP28 side event. “The IAEA is putting all its scientific apparatus to use for the protection of our planet. I welcome that and I am so pleased to work with KISR.”

The project will make use of KISR’s new state-of-the-art research vessel, ‘AlMostakshif' (‘The Explorer’). The ship is aptly named, as it will venture out onto the high seas to conduct new research on ocean acidification and marine pollution. KISR is already a longstanding partner of the IAEA and acts as a hub in the region for marine environment studies, providing its unique expertise in areas related to water, sediment and ocean organisms. Read the full story.

Wetlands cover approximately 5% of the earth’s land surface and offer a wide range of benefits.

A single acre of wetland can store roughly 1 million gallons of floodwater during storms or heavy rainfall, about twice the volume of an Olympic-size swimming pool, acting as a natural sponge.

However, due to climate change-induced alterations in precipitation patterns and rising sea levels, these invaluable functions of wetlands are increasingly at risk.

Isotope hydrology studies water movement and origin, tracing sources and pathways. It also aids in identifying water sources for wetland recharge, assessing groundwater-surface water interactions, and predicting wetland and groundwater responses to climate change.

Taking place on 10 December, from 10:00 – 11:00 (GMT +4), this event will highlight the role of isotope hydrology in understanding the complex interactions between wetlands, groundwater, and climate change. It will also highlight how incorporating isotope hydrology enhances management strategies for long-term sustainability.

Did you know that globally, one-third of all food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted? This adds up to 1.3 billion tons per year, worth about USD 1 trillion. In a world where food security remains a challenge and hunger is on the rise, we need sustainable solutions to reduce food loss and waste.

Join us on Saturday, 9 December for a side event on “The Role of Sustainable Food Packaging in Achieving Food Security” at the Atoms4Climate Pavilion. Co-hosted by the IAEA and UNIDO, and in cooperation with the Emirates Environmental Group and the World Packaging Organization, this event will highlight the role that food packaging can play in reducing post-harvest food losses and waste and in building a sustainable food system. It will showcase sustainable food processing methods, including chemical-free technology using soft electrons, as well as best practices in sustainable packaging, such as circular and recyclable packaging.

Although 282 million people in Africa face food insecurity due to climate change challenges, only 12 per cent of the needed climate financing is available, hindering efforts to address the continent’s vulnerabilities.

Building climate-resilient food systems requires approaches that tackle multiple risks to people and the environment. Integrating climate, food security, dedicated financial schemes and humanitarian assistance programs is required to support building food systems that would better anticipate and respond to climate-driven disasters.

On 9 December, the IAEA and UNIDO will co-host a side event on “Supporting Africa to build climate-resilient food systems” at the Atoms4Food Pavilion which will highlight the key issues needed to build climate-resilient food systems, including expanding climate-smart agriculture, scaling up climate finance, building community resilience, and designing food systems that are gender-, youth- and climate-sensitive. Contributors from diverse backgrounds will share innovative approaches to achieving resilient food systems in Africa in a context of climate change.

Did you know that around 80% of wastewater worldwide goes back into the environment without proper treatment?

This untreated water often carries pollutants like chemicals, bacteria, and other harmful substances that can seep into our drinking water sources or affect the quality of water used for farming.

By comprehending how these pollutants move through our water systems, we can take steps to prevent contamination, safeguarding our water for future generations and ensuring safe drinking water and fertile lands for agriculture.

Taking place on 9 December, at 10:00 (GMT +4), this event will highlight the impact of water pollution on the natural environment and its downstream effects on the sustainability of water supply in the face of climate change. It will also showcase how isotope hydrology offers a powerful tool to unravel this complex web of interactions.

World leaders, engineering students, scientists, radiation experts and the next generation advocate for nuclear power for a net zero future.

Melting glaciers, collapsing ice shelves, thawing permafrost – these are some of the most visible impacts of climate change.

Glaciers around the world have been losing over 200 billion metric tons of ice per year, contributing significantly to rising sea levels.

Glaciers play a crucial role in regulating global water resources. Retreating glaciers disrupt water cycles, threatening freshwater resources, ecosystems, agriculture, and communities that rely on glacial meltwater.

The Himalayan glaciers, crucial water sources for millions of people, have been receding at an alarming rate of approximately 10 meters (33 feet) per year.

The IAEA event, Cryosphere: The impact of retreating glaciers, will take place on 6 December at 11:00 (GMT +4). The panel discussion will focus on the high-risk areas of cryosphere melting and glacier retreat and the IAEA's efforts in addressing where glacier melt water is going and its impact on the longevity of groundwater reserves.

The discussion will also explore implementation actions ahead of the 2025 International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation conference in Tajikistan.

Fusion is developing fast and gaining momentum as a climate solution, the IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said at a COP28 event on fusion energy and climate on 1 December 2023 in Dubai. 

Progress is being made in fusion energy research and development around the world, and the IAEA is at the forefront of these efforts “uniting stakeholders as this technology progresses towards a low-carbon future,” the Director General said.

The IAEA has supported fusion research and development for decades, by fostering cooperation and coordination among the fusion community. At the event, Mr Grossi enjoyed a “constructive exchange” with Christofer Mowry, CEO of the US private fusion company, Type One Energy, and Chair of the Fusion Industry Association Board and Laban Coblentz, ITER Head of Communication.

“The IAEA has a very important role to play in bringing fusion energy to the world, by providing a robust platform which convenes key stakeholders in this endeavour,” said Christofer Mowry. “The fusion community needs the experience and capability which the IAEA provides as a strong global convener in critical areas like regulation, complementing other initiatives announced here at COP28”, Mowry said.

The IAEA recently released its first-ever World Fusion Outlook, a publication that aims to be the global reference for authoritative information and updates on fusion energy. Next year, the IAEA will hold the inaugural World Fusion Energy Group meeting. This 2024 gathering will unite fusion scientists, engineers, policy makers, financiers, regulators, and the private sector, enabling  collaboration as the fusion energy journey continues from the experimental stage towards demonstration, with the eventual goal of commercial fusion energy production. Read the full story.

Constructive exchange at @iterorg's #COP28 event on fusion energy and climate with @typeoneenergy. Fusion is developing fast and gaining momentum as a climate solution. @IAEAorg's at forefront, uniting stakeholders as this technology progresses towards a low-carbon future. pic.twitter.com/EYdc125beT

— Rafael MarianoGrossi (@rafaelmgrossi) December 1, 2023

As coal consumption continues to rise worldwide despite global efforts to slash greenhouse gas emissions, several countries are eyeing a strategy for using advanced nuclear power including small modular reactors (SMRs) to reduce reliance on the most polluting fossil fuel. At an event today at the IAEA’s Atoms4Climate pavilion, speakers from Canada, Romania and the United States shared their experience and plans repurposing former coal sites for nuclear power—and thereby ensuring a just energy transition by reaping the economic and environmental benefits of switching to this clean and reliable technology.

The Canadian province of Ontario is one of the world’s leading examples of how replacing coal with nuclear can decarbonize electricity production and clean up local air pollution, and was highlighted in the book A Bright Future. The last coal fired electricity plant in Ontario was mothballed in 2014 and replaced with refurbished nuclear reactors that had previously been shut down. The results: electricity generation in Ontario produces about 25 grams of CO2 per kWh, well under levels consistent with the objectives of the Paris Agreement (50 grams), compared with 230 grams of CO2 per kWh previously.

The effort also cleaned up local air pollution. “We turned the sky from orange to blue in a matter of 15 years. How? With renewables as well, but largely on the back of nuclear production,” Pat Dalzell, Executive Director of Corporate Affairs for Bruce Power, which operates the province’s eight nuclear reactors, said at the IAEA event. “Now when you look up at the sky on a hot summer day in Toronto, the sky is blue,” he said, adding that nuclear power facilities in the province account for some 22,000 jobs, with another 5,000 expected to be created when the operating lifetime of existing reactors are extended for several more years. Read the full story.

At COP28, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi and FAO Director General Qu Dongyu presented the #Atoms4Food initiative,  intended to alleviate the impacts of climate change on food security by improving agriculture and soil and water management using nuclear techniques.

“Food is a basic human right for everyone. We have to produce more with less because of the climate crisis. We need science-based solutions and a technically driven approach to contribute in the future,” Mr Qu told participants at a IAEA-FAO high-level event on 1 December at COP28.

Director General Grossi outlined the IAEA-FAO support envisioned under the #Atoms4Food initiative. “We are going to start with the self-assessments made by countries, because we believe that we need to follow their approaches and what is concerning for them. Then we will roll out tailormade projects and programmes for them,” said Mr Grossi.  “We are moving in a concrete way – not too much talk, but action. We will bring to the countries the solutions they need,” he said.

The new initiative builds upon the nearly 60 years of IAEA-FAO collaboration through the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture. It combines the organizations’ unique strengths to the benefit of populations facing hunger. The IAEA, through the Joint Centre, uses nuclear applications to support countries to identify and solve challenges caused by climate change.  Read the full story.

Almost all of the Earth’s water is salty, less than three per cent is freshwater.

Our main source of freshwater water is underground water, which is not always easy to access. Laboratories that can generate reliable data in a timely manner are the cornerstone of any country’s capacity to better understand and manage their water resources.

At the UN Water Conference 2023, gaps and omissions in data and information were consistently highlighted as impediments to the ability of countries to effectively manage their water resources. In response, the IAEA created the Global Water Analysis Laboratory (GloWAL) Network, which is designed to improve capacity in the analysis, interpretation, and presentation of water chemistry and isotopes data.

The GloWAL Network side event, 6 December, from 16:00 - 17:00 (GMT +4) will inform participants about progress made on the Water Action Agenda resulting from the UN Water Conference 2023, empower countries in data generation, and discuss opportunities and benefits for countries participating in the Network.

Expanding the use of nuclear power as a clean energy source to fight climate change will require the renewed focus on how a warming climate impacts on the safety of nuclear power plants.

During an event held on 4 December in the Energy Transition Hub at COP28, speakers from the IAEA, the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Electricité de France (EDF) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) discussed how nuclear power operators, nuclear regulators and international organizations must work together to meet the challenges affecting the safety of plants.

“For nuclear power to play a wider role in the quest towards net zero carbon emissions, a focused approach on hazard assessment from a warming climate and safety designs to mitigate the impacts on nuclear power infrastructure must be ensured,” said Paolo Contri from the IAEA Division of Nuclear Installation Safety.

The event was jointly organized by the IAEA and FANR. Sara Al Saadi, Director of Nuclear Safety, informed the audience about FANR’s Integrated Operational Nuclear Safety (IONS) project, a real-time environmental and climate monitoring system linked to the operation of the UAE’s Barakah Nuclear Power Plant. “Driven by artificial intelligence, and integrated with the IAEA’s Event Notification System, IONS will bolster the safety and resiliency of our nuclear power plant against the negative effects of climate change.”

Coming on the heels of IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi’s announcement of a landmark IAEA statement declaring that “net zero needs nuclear power”, the panel discussed prevention and mitigation of the effects of climate change on the safety of nuclear installations. On the suggestions of the panellists, four tracks were identified as being essential for safety: data collection on potential safety impacts at international level; modelling of expected hazards; capacity building for safety and regulatory preparedness.

With the efforts underway to ensure safety of nuclear power plants against the effects of climate change, resilient and robust nuclear power has the potential to play a wider role in the quest towards net zero carbon emissions.

The growth in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the lesser-known impacts of climate change.

As temperatures rise, so does the prevalence of AMR, creating a dangerous synergy that threatens human, animal and environmental health. Severe flooding caused by climate change leads to overcrowding, poor sanitation and pollution – creating ideal conditions for the spread of AMR.

To learn more, please join us today, on 5 December for an event on “Antimicrobial Resistance and Climate Change: Two Interlinking Global Challenges” which will be held in the Atoms4Climate Pavilion.

The event will highlight the urgent need for a comprehensive response to AMR that recognizes the interconnectedness of human, animal and environmental health – and takes climate change into account.

A new international IAEA technical cooperation project, launched on 2 December 2023 at a COP28 side event, will catalyze the IAEA’s existing climate adaptation activities in food and water security to harness the already expansive interregional networks of laboratories and facilitate international collaboration. The new climate adaptation project aims to support national efforts to ensure successful and sustainable solutions to the impacts of climate change. Read the full story.

The Persian Gulf, the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea are all delicate marine ecosystems, home to abundant coral reefs and the source of food and livelihoods for millions of people living along their coasts. They are also vulnerable to the effects of climate change, particularly ocean acidification.

On 3 December, learn more about ocean acidification in this region at an event on “Ocean acidification in the Persian Gulf, the Red Sea and the Mediterranean: scaling down risks and scaling up solutions” which will be held at the Atoms4Climate Pavilion at 14.00 (GMT +4).

The side event will highlight success stories and lessons learned from over a decade of collaborations between the IAEA Ocean Acidification International Coordination Centre and scientific and government institutions in the region. The focus will be on current and projected challenges to marine food chains, related economic activities and seafood security, with a view to optimal pathways for effective and sustainable adaptation and mitigation solutions.

Every day for the past 20 years, about 2,000 hectares of irrigated land in arid and semi-arid regions have been damaged by salinization. Soil salinity, made worse by the escalating impacts of climate change, now affects nearly one-fifth of the world's total agricultural land, with a negative impact on crop production and food security.

On 3 December, learn about how nuclear techniques are being used to tackle this challenge at a side event on “Climate Smart Agriculture Solutions to Combat Salinity and Climate Change” at the UNFCCC COP28 Atoms4Climate Pavilion.

This event will shed light on how climate change impacts soil salinization and crop production, and will highlight climate smart solutions.

Significant investments in nuclear power will be needed to triple its generating capacity and reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, as more than 20 countries have committed to here at COP28.

An IAEA event at COP28 on 3 December, speakers from US-based tech company Google and French bank BNB Paribas as well as OECD/NEA and the World Nuclear Association explored ways to unlock investments for a bright nuclear power future. Among their suggestions: redesign electricity markets so that they accord appropriate value to clean firm energy sources like nuclear; enable the World Bank and other international financial institutions to invest in nuclear power; and tap into corporate energy buyers by having them secure long term purchase power agreements for new nuclear energy projects or provide early stage capital.

Devon Swezey, Senior Manager, Global Energy and Climate at Google, said tech companies will need ever greater amounts of electricity to power operations such as data centers, and that advanced nuclear power is an option under consideration. He said Google has set a goal to operate on 24/7 carbon-free energy around the clock by 2030, matching the company’s electricity demand on the same grid they consume it with clean power on an hour by hour basis.

“We know that wind, solar and batteries will be core technologies to drive decarbonization of our consumption. But we also need technologies, and in particular firm, dispatchable, carbon free electricity technologies to complement variable renewables and deeply decarbonize electricity consumption most cost effectively,” Swezey said at the event. “Two months ago we released a report about these advanced clean electricity technologies, including advanced nuclear power, and how corporate buyers of clean energy can help reduce barriers to commercialization of those technologies. We’re hoping to work with many clean energy buyers in the industry to scale these technologies like advanced nuclear in the coming decades, and achieve 24/7 clean power not just for Google, but for everyone.”

Proud to announce today at #COP28 a major nuclear energy summit for 2024 together with ???????? Prime Minister @alexanderdecroo, ???????? President @emmanuelmacron, in the presence of other world leaders. pic.twitter.com/6g7RJh8cng

— Rafael MarianoGrossi (@rafaelmgrossi) December 2, 2023

Two billion people worldwide do not have access to safe drinking water, according to the United Nations. With the help of nuclear science we can ensure its future availability and its sustainable management. Read more here.

IAEA Director General Grossi and Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo today officially announced the first-ever Nuclear Energy Summit, to be held in Brussels in March next year. The announcement came at a COP28 event in Dubai where more than 20 countries on four continents pledged to triple nuclear power generating capacity by 2050 to achieve global climate goals.

The summit featuring world leaders will highlight the role of nuclear energy in addressing the global challenges to reduce the use of fossil fuels, enhance energy security and boost economic development.

Amid the rising wave of international support for scaling up the use of nuclear power, Mr Grossi opened the IAEA’s Atoms4Climate pavilion at COP28 on 1 December, kicking off almost two weeks of events aimed at highlighting the role of nuclear technology and science in climate change mitigation and adaptation. The event featured a lively conversation between Mr Grossi and Isabelle Boemeke, also known as Isodope, the world’s first nuclear influencer.

Read more here.

A first-of-its-kind nuclear energy summit will be held next year, it was announced at COP28 today. Leaders from around the world will gather in Brussels in March 2024 to highlight the role of nuclear energy in addressing the global challenges to reduce the use of fossil fuels, enhance energy security and boost economic development. Watch the video.

Join us on 2 December from 11:00-12:00 (GMT +4) at the Atoms4Climate Pavilion. Country representatives will come together with members of the private sector to discuss comprehensive and sustainable climate adaptation solutions to bridge the gap between science and policy at ‘Building Resilience in Food and Water Systems Using Conventional and Nuclear Technologies.’

Accelerated action on climate adaptation is needed urgently. For many countries, the Paris Agreement’s global goals are not an abstract future aspiration, but a necessity here and now, grounded in today’s reality.

IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi will present innovative solutions and new IAEA projects and initiatives. Panelists will have the opportunity to highlight the climate adaptation work of their organizations. Particular emphasis will be given to nuclear techniques in the context of climate adaptation programmes and the areas of agriculture, food security, water management and livestock.

The event will be livestreamed. 

“Net zero needs nuclear power,” the IAEA said in a statement delivered by Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi, at COP28 in Dubai today. The landmark statement was backed by dozens of countries.  Read the media release and full statement, which is also avaliable in Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish. See photos here.

Did you know that last year, over 735 million people around the world went to bed hungry?

Food insecurity is on the rise, and climate change is making it worse. Increasing climate extremes are causing more and more crops to fail, even as global food demand continues to grow.

Join us on 1 December for a high-level dialogue on “Climate Change and Food Security: The Role of Nuclear Science and Technology” co-hosted by the IAEA and the FAO at the COP28 Food and Agriculture Pavilion. The discussion will showcase how innovative nuclear and related techniques can help to transform agrifood systems and support climate change adaptation and mitigation.

The event, which will be opened by FAO Director General Qu Dongu and IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi, will feature a roundtable discussion with high-level representatives from countries around the world who will share success stories of how nuclear techniques have contributed to more productive and more resilient agriculture in their countries.

Follow the livestream at www.foodpavilion.com

The IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi will today announce the IAEA Statement on Nuclear Power at a high level event at COP28.

Supported by dozens of countries, the statement will highlight the role of nuclear power in fighting climate change as part of a low carbon energy mix.

Media are invited to attend the event and ask questions directly to Director General Grossi.

The event takes place Friday, 1 December at 15:00 (11:00 GMT), in the Shared Presentations Stage 3, Area B7, Building 88 in the Blue Zone.

The event will be livestreamed. See the media advisory.

The media kit is provided to help the media in reporting on the role of nuclear, and the IAEA, in addressing the climate crisis. It contains key messages, web stories and more. Videos, b-roll and high-resolution images are also available. The content complements the IAEA Atoms4Climate pavilion at COP. Read the media advisory for more.

The ocean plays a key role in regulating the Earth’s climate, supporting biodiversity, providing food and sustaining life on our planet.

Climate change is causing significant changes in the ocean that can have negative effects on these essential processes. Protecting ocean health must be a global priority.

Join us today, 30 November in our Atoms4Climate Pavilion or via the livestream for an event on “Promoting Ocean Health with the Research Vessel AlMostakshif” to learn about the new IAEA-KISR Ocean Health project, which will contribute to the global effort to protect our ocean through innovative research and capacity building on ocean acidification, blue carbon, marine pollution and more.

Co-hosted by the IAEA and the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), the event will take place in the Atoms4Climate Pavilion at 16:00 (GMT +4).

Monitoring Marine Ecosystem: For more than ten years, the IAEA has worked with the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) to develop and apply nuclear techniques for monitoring the impact of climate change on marine ecosystems. The information gathered informs policies needed to ensure the resilience of marine ecosystems and coastal communities. Read more here.

Arrived in Dubai for #COP28.
Nuclear energy has earned its place in climate discussions and important announcements will be made here at COP. The world needs nuclear now more than ever. pic.twitter.com/dkwfIL45ko

— Rafael MarianoGrossi (@rafaelmgrossi) November 30, 2023

The IAEA Atoms4Climate Pavilion is open for visitors at COP28! The space is a focal point to showcase nuclear science and technology solutions for climate change mitigation, adaptation and monitoring.

COP28 attendees are invited to join the full programme of events. From cutting-edge reactor technologies to applications in food, agriculture and water management, visitors can learn about the diverse ways nuclear can address the challenges of a rapidly changing climate. Each event will be available to livestream here. See you at the Atoms4Climate Pavilion!

As world leaders convene at this year's UN Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), or COP28, the IAEA will host and participate in around 50 events from 30 November to 12 December 2023, highlighting the solutions nuclear science and technology can provide in climate change mitigation, adaptation, and monitoring.

The IAEA’s Atoms4Climate pavilion in the Blue Zone will feature events focussing on four areas: energy, food, oceans and water. Low carbon nuclear energy can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while nuclear techniques can be used to enhance global food security, monitor ocean health, and improve access to clean water — all of which are impacted by climate change.

IAEA Director General, Rafael Mariano Grossi, will announce the IAEA Statement on Nuclear Power supported by dozens of countries, in a flagship event on Friday 1 December that will highlight the role of nuclear power as part of the energy mix. The event will be livestreamed. 

See the IAEA at COP28 page for the complete list of IAEA and partner events. Read the full story here.