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Harnessing Isotope Hydrology for Water Diplomacy: UN World Water Day 2024

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

Prosperity and peace rely on water

Water cooperation can be a powerful tool for science diplomacy. Instances of cooperation over water that nurtured peaceful collaboration have historically extended beyond water-related issues and acted as a stabilizing force and catalyst for sustainable development. Water cooperation, both within and between countries, can pave the way for collaboration across all sectors. At the local and national levels, integrated water resources management and a circular economy approach are promoted. At the basin level, countries are encouraged to develop agreements and institutions for the peaceful management of transboundary water resources.

As climate change, population growth and water scarcity intensify, placing immense pressure on food supply, the need for sustainable water management becomes increasingly urgent. Only 0.5 per cent of earth’s water is available as freshwater and climate change poses a significant threat to this vital resource. The IAEA’s commitment to make a positive impact towards a sustainable and equitable water future aligns with the Paris Agreement‘s adaptation goals. 

The celebration of the UN World Water Day 2024 is an opportunity to once again recognize the critical role of water cooperation in advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The IAEA, through initiatives like the GloWAL Network, exemplifies its commitment to empowering nations, fostering cooperation, and promoting water’s pivotal role in global peace and prosperity.
 

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World Leaders Convene for Nuclear Energy Summit

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

The first ever Nuclear Energy Summit starts tomorrow, where world leaders will gather to discuss how nuclear power can help drive sustainable development.

Co-chaired by the Prime Minister of Belgium Alexander De Croo and the Director General of the IAEA Rafael Mariano Grossi, the Summit will be the highest-level meeting to date exclusively focused on the topic of nuclear energy. It comes in the wake of the historic inclusion of nuclear energy in the Global Stocktake agreed at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai in December 2023, which called for accelerating its deployment along with other low carbon energy sources.

Director General Grossi said, “This historic summit will build on the momentum of COP28 where the world finally agreed it must invest in nuclear energy to meet its climate goals. Now is time for action, for laying out the concrete steps that will make the investment happen.”

Leaders speaking at the historic meeting are expected to include the presidents or prime ministers of Armenia, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia and Sweden.

High level representatives from the following countries will also give their national perspective on the topic: Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Egypt, India, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and the United States of America.

The night before the summit, President de Croo and Mr Grossi will host an evening debate with more than 70 young science communicators at the iconic Atomium in Brussels.

The summit will start with opening speeches by the co-hosts before the adoption of a key declaration about nuclear energy. The heads of state will speak next followed by other national statements.

The afternoon will consist of technical panel discussions on the practical steps needed to leverage nuclear energy’s full potential to tackle global challenges.

These include sessions on factors influencing deployment; global, regional and national perspectives; technological advancements and innovations; and importantly, finance.

“The summit will provide an opportunity for leaders to support each other as they create the conditions for new nuclear reactors,” Director General Grossi said. “To progress, we need a level financial playing field. That means nuclear energy getting the kind of support already given to other energy sources, whether nationally or by international institutions, such as development banks.”

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IAEA Director General Meets President of Syria and Agrees on New Engagement with Syria and Increased Cancer Care Support

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

Syria’s national cancer control capacities were assessed in late 2022 by the IAEA and its partners in an imPACT Review. The review found that Syria, like many other middle-income countries in the Arab world, is facing a significant increase in the occurrence of cancer cases. Cancer cases and deaths are expected to double between 2020 and 2030. Childhood cancers make up around five to 10 per cent of the cancer burden in the country, with approximately 1500 new cases each year.

Cancer is too often detected late or at an advanced stage in Syria, presenting a formidable challenge for healthcare providers. The 2022 imPACT review concluded that this cancer burden could be alleviated by early detection schemes, particularly for breast and prostate cancers.

Syria has two well-equipped paediatric oncology centres with multidisciplinary cancer care that treat more than 50 per cent of paediatric cancer patients in the country. However, many children do not complete the recommended treatment due to drug shortages and service disruptions.

An increase in childhood cancers is coupled with limited access to diagnostic imaging, radiotherapy and nuclear medicine, due to shortages of equipment and technology as well as an inadequate workforce and heavy workloads.

The 2022 review recommended that a national action plan be developed for Syria and implemented with IAEA and WHO support — including the development of a cancer registry and surveillance tools, the establishment of a national radiotherapy programme and the implementation of accredited training programmes in diagnostic imaging and nuclear medicine.

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Q&A with Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo: The Road to Net Zero Starts Here

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

Alexander De Croo, the Belgian Prime Minister,  will be co-chairing the first ever Nuclear Energy Summit with IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi.

Nuclear energy is attracting growing interest from many countries because of its ability to cut the consumption of fossil fuels while meeting rising demand for low-carbon dispatchable electricity, bringing us closer to achieving our global net zero targets. The Summit will be the highest-level meeting to date exclusively focused on the topic of nuclear energy.

Prime Minister De Croo talks to us about the significance of the Summit and the role of nuclear energy in achieving net zero.

Q: What are the key objectives of the Nuclear Energy Summit, and how do you anticipate it influencing global conversations and actions related to nuclear energy and developing technologies?

This is the first time that a global Nuclear Energy Summit has been organized with the participation of heads of State, and this underlines the importance of this meeting, to be held in Brussels on 21 March 2024. The Summit provides an opportunity for all participating leaders to share their views on the role that nuclear technology must play — and will play in the coming years —in meeting the decarbonization objectives that we have collectively set ourselves. This is a strong political signal, recognizing the essential role of nuclear power for many countries around the world on the road to net zero.

Talking about something is good. Implementing solutions is much better. That’s why we’ve decided to combine these discussions at a political level with a scientific symposium that will bring together key industrial stakeholders to enable them to showcase their latest innovations and help them build the bridges and partnerships that will develop the projects of tomorrow.

Q: How do you see nuclear energy contributing to the global transition toward cleaner and more sustainable energy sources, especially in the context of transitioning to net zero?

As part of the solution. For one thing, the war in Ukraine has opened our eyes in Europe to the fact that we can no longer depend on others for our own energy needs. We need to take back control and diversify our energy sources as much as possible. Europe has rediscovered the geopolitical reality of energy policy. At the same time, we need to accelerate our energy transition if we are to meet the climate targets that we have set ourselves for 2050.

Q: Why now? Why do you think there is a need for this Summit?

Just look at how central nuclear energy was in the discussions at COP28 in Dubai. We now need to move from ideas and projects to implementation. That’s the real challenge. We must seize this momentum to create the political and economic space that will enable us to move from PowerPoints to operating projects, whether we are talking about small modular reactors (SMRs) or other innovative solutions that will enable a stable base load for our industries around the world.

Q: Nuclear energy often meets with public scepticism. What strategies do you think are crucial for enhancing public understanding and acceptance of nuclear power to address climate change?

In a way, this shift has already happened. Public awareness of nuclear energy has not been this high in many decades. Even in countries like my own, where nuclear energy was set to be entirely phased out, you see a stark shift in public opinion favouring the contribution of nuclear power in the energy mix. You see this trend in other countries as well. We must seize this renewed support to establish the strongest possible transparency and trust of our public opinion. We cannot afford to downplay the contribution of nuclear power, but let’s not oversell it either. We need to be realistic in our ambitions in terms of how nuclear energy fits in the overall energy mix of countries, and discuss the opportunities and challenges in a transparent way. The first Nuclear Energy Summit can make a major contribution to this objective.

Q: What challenges and opportunities do you foresee in the widespread adoption of nuclear energy on a global scale, and how can these challenges be addressed?

It’s important to me to talk about the opportunities, which are enormous. Climate change is the greatest challenge of the millennium. But we can turn it into a positive result, creating jobs, increasing the quality and resilience of our societies and offering a real future for innovation and our industry. The challenge is to consolidate our efforts by bringing together the expectations of citizens, politicians, our industries and all stakeholders to work together to implement this response, which involves nuclear energy. The goal is to make this Summit a truly global one, to involve partners from around the world. Climate change does not stop at national borders, and phasing out fossil fuels in only one part of the world will not be enough. We need a collective response at the global level that takes account of differences between continents and countries. We are hosting the first Nuclear Energy Summit, and when we make this a success, it will certainly not be the last.

Q: In your view, how can nuclear energy enhance energy security and foster economic development, both nationally and globally?

Look at what we were able to do in Belgium. We steered around 20 year-long policies and reviewed our position to phase out nuclear energy. We did this at a time when we had never invested so much in renewable energies. Belgium’s ambition is to quadruple its production of offshore wind energy in the North Sea to 8 gigawatts (GW) by 2040 and connect our offshore infrastructure with other North Sea countries through the construction of the world’s first energy island. By 2040, this will cover the consumption of 50% of all Belgian households. Not bad for a country with just over 60 kilometres of coastline! But this needs to be complemented by other low carbon energy sources, such as nuclear power. Besides the long-term operation of the Doel 4 and Tihange 3 reactors, we have decided to invest in nuclear innovation at the Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK-CEN) in Mol. Belgium’s ambition is to be part of innovative research into the dismantling of nuclear facilities, medical applications of radioisotopes and the development of fourth-generation SMRs.

Q: Given the advancements in nuclear technology, including SMRs, large reactors and fusion technology, how do you see these innovations shaping the future of nuclear energy and contributing to a more sustainable energy landscape?

Innovation is key to any sector’s future. Transitioning to a net zero future requires an overhaul of our energy systems. We will continue to need an important baseload in our societies, and nuclear energy will continue to play a critical role in many countries in this regard. But we will also need more agile and smarter energy systems if we are to succeed. Our future energy systems will need to be resilient, provide security of supply, be carbon neutral and come at the lowest possible operating cost. Much of the innovation in the nuclear sector is addressing these challenges. It shows that the sector is on the right path.

The Nuclear Energy Summit will be an opportunity for all participating leaders to share their views on the role that nuclear technology must play — and will play in the coming years —in meeting the decarbonization objectives that we have collectively set ourselves.

Alexander De Croo, Prime Minsiter of Belgium
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IAEA Director General meets Iraq PM to Discuss Intensified Support for Nuclear Energy, Cancer Care and Radioactive Waste Clean-up

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

The latest IAEA missions from 10 March to 22 March aim at incorporating Iraq’s advancements into a national integrated strategy for radioactive waste management, emphasizing environmental safety and international standards compliance.

“It’s crucial that we bring to a successful and satisfactory phase, the work of decommissioning, the work of remediation of the remnants from the past,” Mr Grossi said.

“IAEA experts are this week present in Baghdad, carrying out important technical work.”

During the visit to the Al Tuwaitha site, Mr Grossi learned how plans for a new Iraqi low-level radioactive waste (LLW) repository are taking shape.

Once at the heart of Iraq´s nuclear programme, the Al Tuwaitha site has proved particularly challenging in terms of decommissioning and remediation. Its former nuclear facilities were destroyed due to military actions between 1981 and 2003, rather than taken out of operation in a controlled and planned way. Many facilities were damaged or looted.

The proposed Al Tuwaitha Disposal Facility has been designed with IAEA assistance under the EU’s Instrument for Nuclear Safety Cooperation project and aims to provide a solution for the disposal of low-level radioactive waste arising from the decommissioning of Iraqi nuclear installations.

“Given Iraq’s complex inventory of radioactive waste resulting from decommissioning activities and various forms of contaminated or nuclear material, the integration of its management into a single integrated strategy is imperative,” said Rebecca Robbins, an IAEA waste management expert.

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IAEA Director General in Japan

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

Mr Grossi also met with industry leaders to examine challenges and opportunities around the nuclear sector, such as using SMRs to decarbonize data centres. When meeting with Katsuhiko Kawazoe from telecoms giant NTT, the Director General discussed recent developments in fusion energy, and explained his flagship initiatives to use nuclear science to improve health, address plastic pollution and increase food security, among others.

Mr Grossi furthered this development agenda when in Fukushima, by inaugurating a new anchor centre for his Rays of Hope initiative, to increase access to cancer care in developing countries by building radiotherapy and nuclear medicine capacity. The collaboration with the Japanese network unites 16 medical universities and hospitals.

“From Fukushima, a place that has suffered so much, we are trying to make sure that others who have less, will suffer less,” said Mr Grossi during the signing ceremony.

The Director General also signed a Contribution Agreement with Onchikai General Incorporated Foundation in Fukushima. “This generous donation enhances our joint efforts in providing advanced cancer treatments, marking a step forward in our mission of closing the cancer care gap,” he said.

During his trip, the Director General addressed students at the University of Tokyo on IAEA activities. A meeting with students from Fukushima prefecture underscored the importance of the Agency’s work at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant for future generations.

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The IAEA Joins Forces with US Radiological Society RSNA to Advance Radiology Capacities in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

The IAEA and the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) have signed a strategic partnership agreement to build professional capacity in radiology across low- and-middle-income countries (LMICs), for bolstered diagnostic and medical imaging capabilities in underserved regions across the world.

The agreement was signed by Najat Mokhtar, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications and Mark G. Watson, RSNA Executive Director earlier this month.

 “RSNA is proud to be part of this partnership with the IAEA, and we look forward to working together to raise awareness and address health care disparities in underserved areas,” Watson said. “RSNA is strongly committed to promoting health equity and improving access to care around the world. Through collaborations such as this, we are able to bring high-quality radiology resources and training to the places that need them most.”

RSNA supports patient care through education, research and technological innovation. Its members span the full breadth of radiology subspecialities and represent over 150 countries. By leveraging RSNA’s extensive network and resources, the IAEA seeks to amplify its efforts in promoting equitable access to high quality radiology services in LMICs, notably through its Rays of Hope initiative.

“The IAEA-RSNA collaboration is a commitment to expand our efforts in combatting global healthcare disparities, particularly in cancer care,” said Mokhtar. “Imaging is an integral part of cancer care, but unfortunately there are still countries that do not have access to diagnostic tools and procedures which are integral for the proper diagnosis and staging of cancer in patients —  this collaboration will be a step forward towards building these capacities,” she said.

Medical imaging plays a vital role in achieving the best health outcomes for cancer patients — it is an essential tool used to guide all major medical decisions, from diagnosis to disease staging, therapeutic planning and the assessment of therapeutic response.

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IAEA Marks International Women’s Day by Celebrating More Women in Nuclear

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

Sama Bilbao Y Leon, Director General of the World Nuclear Association, speaking to participants during the high-level panel at the opening of the event.

According to Women in Nuclear Global, women comprise less than a quarter of professionals working in the nuclear sector globally, particularly in senior roles.

Career talks in breakout sessions focused on strengthening participants’ networks and leadership skills, as well as how the nuclear community can support women throughout their careers in the field. Senior nuclear experts and leaders shared their experiences and answered questions. Industry professionals had the chance to meet with a growing community of women nuclear experts and explore opportunities to advance their careers.

“Be bold,” said Aleshia Duncan, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Department of Energy in the USA. “Make an impression. Make a connection. Make a network and a tribe of people that will support you throughout your career.

“We’re telling the truth when we say we need you, but we need you to show up as your best self, knowing that you can do the job, knowing that you can bring your whole self, knowing that you can be who you are, and do the job.”

“The organizations I worked for took it upon themselves to change the way they recruited, nurtured talent, promoted people, and they changed the policy that they had adopted, until that point, to attract women and to look like the society that they were part of and served,” said Mina Golshan, the Safety, Security and Assurance Director of Sizewell C Ltd., during a session featuring leading organizations in the nuclear industry.

During the event’s closing session, the IAEA and WNA signed an agreement pledging to work together to help place women in more professional positions in the nuclear sector. Participants of both programmes also presented their joint statement acknowledging how crucial it is to champion and empower women in nuclear science and technology, and that the field must become more accessible to women. The joint statement was an outcome of an innovative synchronous collaborative  online methodology allowing them to democratically write and edit together their vision of how to attract and retain more women in the nuclear field  before the event. Their joint statement pledged to support, advocate, promote and practice policies that empower women, ensure gender equality, and enable women to reach their full potential in the nuclear field.

The IAEA event also showcased the achievements of the MSCFP and LMP programmes and provided a platform to not only strengthen existing partnerships with donors, but also to establish new ones, ensuring the continued sustainability and success of both programmes for years to come.

High-level representatives of IAEA’s major donors shared their motivations to support the IAEA on the two programmes, as well as concrete actions and outcomes achieved, and what is envisaged for the future of women in the nuclear sector. Mr Carl Hallergard, European Union Ambassador and Permanent Representative to IAEA, announced the EU’s pledge to contribute a further 2 million euros to the MSCFP for future cohorts. The EU is currently the largest MSCFP donor.

The event was made possible thanks to the generous support of China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, the UK and the USA, as well as Walter Testo and Urenco.

Since the MSCFP flagship programme was launched in 2020, 560 women from 121 countries have received financial in-kind support to pursue degrees in the nuclear field in over 70 countries worldwide. Over 180 have already completed their master’s programme with the support of the MSCFP, and over 100 of the selected students have been confirmed for an internship facilitated by the IAEA. The MSCFP welcomed its largest cohort to date at the end of 2023 when over 200 new students were awarded to pursue their studies in nuclear subjects.

“On this International Women’s Day, let us reform our support and commit to empowering women in nuclear science and technology,” said Zainab Kamara, a MSCFP recipient from Sierra Leone who studied Nuclear Science and Applications in the UK.

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IAEA Director General Briefs Board of Governors: Ukraine, Iran and Nuclear Energy Summit

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

Nuclear safety and security in Ukraine

In his written statement, Director Grossi described the current challenges facing Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, which he visited again in person last month, and called once more for “maximum restraint”. The Director General will shortly travel to the Russian Federation to hold high-level consultations as part of his ongoing efforts to ensure nuclear safety and security in the region.

Iran

Mr Grossi also spoke of the unresolved safeguards issues with the Islamic Republic of Iran, adding that he has “hopes to be able to continue this dialogue here or in Tehran or wherever we can because my reports are very clear in this regard: we are not in the place I would like us to be.

“Problems will not disappear. They will only get worse. So, we need to address this in a serious way.”

Syria

The Director General welcomed an invitation he had received from Foreign Minister of the Syrian Arab Republic, Faisal Mekdad, to “visit Damascus to re-establish a meaningful, constructive dialogue and process to facilitate the clarification of remaining issues from the past.” The visit will take place later in March, immediately after a visit to Iraq.

Nuclear Energy Summit

Mr Grossi also drew attention to the upcoming Nuclear Energy Summit, the first of its kind, which will be hosted jointly by the IAEA and the Government of Belgium. “It is going to be an excellent opportunity to discuss the place of nuclear energy in the current energy debates, especially after the watershed final declaration of COP28, which recognized the need to accelerate nuclear energy alongside renewable energies.”

Mr Grossi then emphasized that the IAEA was not only working on the mitigation side of climate change but also on adaptation and on monitoring the effects of global warming.

NUTEC Plastics

In January, the first IAEA scientific research expedition to investigate the scale of microplastic pollution was launched by Mr Grossi and the President of Argentina, Javier Milei. They then travelled to the Antarctic continent together to observe the scientists at work. This expedition is an example of how the IAEA’s NUclear TEChnology for Controlling Plastic Pollution (NUTEC Plastics) can help preserve one of the world’s most delicate marine environments.

“I think it’s very important that for the first time we have objective scientific information of the pollution in this pristine environment,” said Mr Grossi.

Atoms4Food

Mr Grossi and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Director General Qu Dongyu launched a joint IAEA and FAO Atoms4Food initiative last year. The joint initiative aims to increase global food security and tackle growing hunger through the use of nuclear techniques. Mr Grossi said the “first concrete projects” were beginning to take shape as many countries registered their interest.

Rays of Hope

Speaking of the IAEA’s flagship cancer initiative, Rays of Hope, Mr Grossi said: “We are getting more and more requests from countries to participate in this important project.” Last month’s Rays of Hope forum brought together supporters and beneficiaries of the initiative, including Khumbize Chiponda, Malawi’s Minister of Health, who spoke about the positive impact Rays of Hope is having in her country.

ReNuAL2 Underway

Mr Grossi said that many of the IAEA’s initiatives relied on the IAEA’s laboratories in Seibersdorf. He announced that good progress was being made in the final phase of the modernization initiative of  the Nuclear Application Laboratories (ReNuAL2). The Dosimetry Laboratory is close to completion and construction on the new greenhouses is set to begin soon, after the successful mobilization of resources.  

Together For More Women in Nuclear

Concluding his speech, Mr Grossi looked ahead to the IAEA’s Together for More Women in Nuclear event which will take place on 7 and 8 March, to commemorate International Women’s Day. The event brings almost 500 fellows and participants from the IAEA’s  Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship Programme and the Lise Meitner Programme to the IAEA’s Vienna headquarters to exchange ideas and strengthen networking and leadership skills.

 “Now, thanks to the programmes we put together and the generosity of all of you Member States, we have a powerful and ever-growing community of women pursuing careers in nuclear physics, nuclear engineering and other specialties,” he said.

Mr Grossi noted the progress made towards gender parity at the IAEA Secretariat.  Under his helm, the number of women in professionals and higher categories has increased from 30 per cent to almost 46 per cent since December 2019. 

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Obesity Crisis: New IAEA Database to Help Countries Tackle Nutrition Challenges

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

To mark World Obesity Day on Monday 4 March, the IAEA will launch a body composition (BC) database aimed at helping countries devise better health policies to combat growing obesity challenges worldwide. Learning more about body composition, which refers to the relative amounts of fat and lean tissue that make up the body, can help experts and policy makers make more informed decisions, as body composition is a proven indicator of nutritional health.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), worldwide obesity has nearly tripled since 1975. Around 800 million adults worldwide are living with obesity and the number of children living with obesity is expected to reach 250 million by 2030. The 2022 Global Nutrition Report reported that there is currently a global nutrition crisis, stating “poor diets and malnutrition in all its forms are among the greatest societal challenges of our time, impacting our health, our economies, and our environment”. Obesity is now rising the fastest in lower- and middle-income countries, with around 70 per cent of  globally overweight or obese people living in these countries.  People living with obesity are at increased risk from other chronic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease and are more likely to develop 13 types of cancer.

“To effectively prevent and manage obesity, interventions need to be based on accurate, informative and relevant data” said Alexia Alford, a Nutrition Specialist at the IAEA. “The new database will bring together body composition data collected using nuclear techniques from across all global regions and from all stages of life. This data will contribute to understanding the complex condition of obesity and provide evidence to support the design of nutrition interventions for the prevention and management of obesity.”

The new IAEA BC database is being populated by countries’ data obtained using the non-invasive stable isotope technique of deuterium dilution. This will enable researchers to examine obesity with reference to body composition data rather than data based only on body proportions, such as weight and height. The IAEA’s new database is a growing global collection of studies, currently representing 13 countries from Latin America, Asia and Africa with datapoints from around 2600 study participants.

The database is open to contributing researchers and will be available to those interested in accessing body composition data for secondary data analysis once the initial phase of data submissions is complete. The IAEA, with the assistance of a management group of experts, will coordinate data usage requests, ensuring that the data is responsibly used for scientific purposes. New data submissions can be made to the Body Composition database here.