Category: News Story

The 2024 Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Science, Technology and Applications and the Technical Cooperation Programme will take place on 26-28 November 2024 at the IAEA’s headquarters in Vienna, Austria. The conference will bring together key decision makers to highlight how nuclear science and technology and the IAEA’s technical cooperation (TC) programme are addressing global challenges, including climate change, a growing cancer burden, rising hunger, water scarcity and plastic pollution.

Nuclear applications can offer technical solutions to help countries meet development goals while addressing pressing and emerging challenges – including mitigating and adapting to climate change. Climate change is increasing food insecurity and water scarcity, and threatening ocean resources, while global health is impacted by pandemic threats and gaps in cancer care.

“For decades, the IAEA has led the way in helping countries harness the great potential of nuclear science and technology,” said IAEA Director General Rafael Marino Grossi. “Together we have succeeded in touching the lives of many around the world. But seeing the scale of the challenges, we need to do more.”

The IAEA has launched five flagship initiatives to help countries manage their development challenges. They are: 

• ZODIAC, assisting countries prevent pandemics caused by zoonotic diseases (diseases originating in animals that can be transmitted to humans) with a focus on research, and innovation. 
• NUTEC Plastics, fighting plastic pollution both by introducing new technologies to improve plastic recycling; and by identifying, and monitoring plastic pollution in the ocean.
• Rays of Hope: Cancer Care for All, aimed at expanding cancer care in middle- and low- income countries where the need is greatest.
• Atoms4Food, a joint initiative with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations aimed at boosting food security.
• Atoms4NetZero, which seeks to inform policymakers and decision-makers on the potential way forward for nuclear power as the reliable backbone of clean, affordable, resilient and more secure energy transitions.

The Ministerial Conference will encourage dialogue on facilitating the development and deployment of nuclear techniques to help countries achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – emphasizing food security and safety, climate change, and water resource management. The event aims to raise awareness of the IAEA’s research and development capacities, and the role of its TC programme in transferring nuclear applications and technology so that countries can apply it safely and securely to address development challenges.

The IAEA helps countries use nuclear science, and applications safely, and sustainably for peaceful purposes. These range from eliminating pests with the environmentally friendly sterile insect technique, to creating better crops using mutation breeding and employing nuclear techniques to combat malnutrition. Radiotherapy and nuclear medicine make a key contribution to human health. Countries also use nuclear techniques for climate change mitigation, monitoring and adaptation. Isotope hydrology can be used to manage water resources more effectively as they help scientists understand groundwater systems, water quality, and the sustainable use of aquifers.

Around 150 countries benefit from the IAEA’s technical cooperation (TC) programme, the IAEA’s primary mechanism for transferring nuclear technology to member countries to address key development priorities. In addition, the IAEA brings together research institutions across the globe to collaborate on coordinated research projects ranging from isotope and radiation applications in agriculture, human health, industry, and terrestrial and marine environments.

By sharing knowledge, establishing and facilitating regional cooperation, the IAEA assists countries in addressing their most urgent priorities in a safe and sustainable manner, including those in agriculture, food, water and health.

Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi delivering his opening statement to the IAEA Board of Governors. (Photo: D. Calma/IAEA)

The IAEA Director General has briefed the Board of Governors on his high-level meetings in Tehran last week, describing his discussions with the new government as constructive. Nevertheless, he pointed out, there were ongoing concerns.  

“It is clear that the accumulation of enriched uranium at very high levels has been a matter of concern for many around the world. And this is why I requested the Islamic Republic of Iran to exercise restraint. Not only to exercise restraint, but also if possible, to stop increasing the stockpile of sixty percent uranium. And this request of mine was accepted by Iran.”

Rafael Mariano Grossi went on to discuss how this was an initial step, and a lot more needed to be done. He said: “It is the duty of the IAEA to preserve the regime of which we are the custodians – the non-proliferation regime. And this has been at the heart of this important effort.”

COP29 high-level event on Financing Low Carbon Technology, Including Nuclear Energy. Baku, Azerbaijan. 13 November 2024. (Photo:  D. Calma/IAEA)

Nuclear power is in the spotlight at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Azerbaijan, where both countries and industries presented plans to deploy the carbon-free energy technology, building on the historic consensus to accelerate its use that emerged from last year’s climate summit.

Reaching global decarbonization targets by 2050 will require a significant expansion of nuclear power. This was acknowledged at the first Nuclear Energy Summit in March 2024 as well as in the Global Stocktake at COP28 and the pledge by more than 20 countries to seek to triple nuclear capacity. But to get there, capital is urgently needed, said IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi. “Finance institutions need to evolve with the changing demands of the market—and there’s a clear demand for and growing interest in nuclear,” Mr Grossi said at a high-level event co-hosted by the COP29 Presidency and the IAEA that focused on financing low-carbon energy projects including nuclear power.

The high-level event featured speakers including Mr Grossi and Parviz Shabazov, Minister of Energy of Azerbaijan; Herbert Krapa, Deputy Minister of Energy of Ghana; Fatih Birol, IEA Executive Secretary; Francesco La Camera, Director-General of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA); Tatiana Molcean, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE); Mark Bowman, Vice President for Policy and Partnerships, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD); Sama Bilbao y Leon, Director General of the World Nuclear Association; and Seth Agbeve, Director of Renewable Energy at the Ministry of Energy of Ghana.

The event followed the signing of a memorandum of understanding by the IAEA and Azerbaijan in which the Agency agreed to provide energy planning capacity building services, including a joint analysis under the Atoms4NetZero initiative on the potential role of nuclear energy in Azerbaijan’s clean energy transition.

Noting the importance of nuclear energy for Azerbaijan’s future, Azerbaijan Minister of Energy Parviz Shahbazov said at the event that “Azerbaijan sees opportunities for nuclear energy to be part of its energy mix in the future, as clean energy.”

Mr. Grossi signed cooperation agreements with several organizations at COP29. The company LinkedIn agreed to support capacity building in the nuclear sector with training, data insights and networking. The IAEA and IRENA agreed to cooperate on joint missions, training, data sharing and case studies to support energy planning and clean energy goals. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the IAEA agreed to cooperate on nuclear safety, decommissioning, environmental remediation and nuclear energy.

IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi accepting the Henry DeWolf Smyth Nuclear Statesman Award.

The IAEA Director General has been granted the Henry DeWolf Smyth Nuclear Statesman Award – for outstanding service in developing and guiding the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

Rafael Mariano Grossi accepted the award at the American Nuclear Society’s Winter Conference in Florida yesterday.

The award is given to one person every year who has been widely recognized for their “statesmanlike contributions to the many aspects of nuclear energy”.

Previous winners include Nobel laureates as well as two former IAEA directors general, Sigvard Eklund and Hans Blix, who won in 1976 and 1988 respectively.

The award is jointly presented by the ANS and the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI).

NEI’s president Maria Korsnick listed previous high-profile winners in her address and said: “This years’ awardee is equally distinguished and equally a champion for nuclear energy, science and technology.”

ANS Vice President Hashem Hashemian agreed, calling the Director General “truly a champion for world peace, nuclear security and safety.”

He added: “He is also one of the hardest working people I know. Just over the last seven days he has been to Iran, he has been to COP29 and he is now here.”

The agreement was signed at COP29, in Baku, Azerbaijan, by Rafael Mariano Grossi and Allen Blue on Tuesday, 12 November. (Photo: D.Calma/ IAEA).

A new IAEA and LinkedIn Practical Arrangement will bring networking and training opportunities for women in the nuclear field. By joining forces, the IAEA and LinkedIn enter into a new partnership in workforce development and capacity building, especially in the nuclear energy and STEM sectors. This partnership will provide essential resources, including training, research, and access to LinkedIn’s extensive global network, helping to advance critical goals in these fields. The agreement was signed at the 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), or COP29, in Baku, Azerbaijan, by IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi and the Co-Founder of LinkedIn Allen Blue on Tuesday, 12 November.

“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. It will also help women progress in the nuclear field, bringing greater diversity to the workforce.”

This partnership is the beginning of a dynamic and growing collaboration aimed at developing a more skilled, diverse, and sustainable global workforce in STEM and nuclear sectors. Hundreds of women master’s students and mid-career professionals from around the world have been supported by the IAEA’s Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship and Lise Meitner Programmes. In addition to monetary scholarships and internship opportunities, fellows benefit from a LinkedIn group for participants and alumnae of the programme that provides a forum for networking and sharing educational and professional development opportunities.

Under the new Practical Arrangement, LinkedIn will offer training sessions to fellows and IAEA staff on how to make best use of its social media platform to help advance their careers. Sessions will range from profile development, building networks and thought leadership to women in STEM and the renewable energy workforce, which includes nuclear energy.

The Practical Arrangement will also give the IAEA access to insights into workforce trends and data in the nuclear field, as well as LinkedIn research into questions and challenges facing the IAEA and the global community regarding nuclear technologies.

The IAEA’s LinkedIn page, regularly updated with employment and internship opportunities at the IAEA, can be found here, and the Mr Grossi’s LinkedIn Page here.

The conference will consist of plenary presentations, panel discussions and poster sessions focused on topics within seven subject areas: utilizations and applications, operation and maintenance, new research reactor programmes, safety, security, fuel management and common management considerations. The meeting will also feature five side events, including a joint event with Women in Nuclear Global that will look at challenges and opportunities for women at research reactors.

“This conference is essential for addressing global challenges facing research reactor programmes, including how to ensure long-term sustainability,” said Khaled Toukan, Chairman of the Jordan Atomic Energy Commission and Conference Chair. “This collaboration strengthens the role of research reactors as valuable assets, advancing scientific progress and reaping benefits to individual Member States and the international community at large.”

Concerted efforts are needed for research reactors to continue delivering results globally and remain sustainable for decades to come. About 50% of the research reactors in operation have reached 50 years of age, with about 30% operating for 60 years. Robust life management programmes, which involve modernization and refurbishment activities, are necessary for safe operation and to ensure the ongoing availability of the wide range of products and services offered by research reactors.

Research reactors are also crucial for workforce development, serving as vital education and training centres for the next generation of nuclear scientists, engineers, and reactor operators. The IAEA estimates that upwards of 4 million professionals will be supporting the nuclear power industry by 2050, and with one-third of the existing workforce projected to retire by 2033, there will be a need for potentially more than one million new workers to enter the industry by then. The availability of training facilities, including research reactors is a key component of capacity building and human resource development.

The conference livestream is available here.

IAEA Support to Member States

The IAEA offers a comprehensive suite of support services for Member States operating research reactors. These include safety standards, published guidance and technical documents on various aspects of research reactors operation and utilization, peer review services such as the Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure for Research Reactors (INIR-RR), Operation and Maintenance Assessment for Research Reactors (OMARR), Integrated Research Reactor Utilization Review (IRRUR), the Integrated Safety Assessment of Research Reactors (INSARR) and Safety Assessment for Long Term Operation for Research Reactors (SALTO-RR). IAEA  support also includes Research Reactor Schools, training courses and workshops, as well as direct support in addressing specific issues through the Technical Cooperation programme.

The Agency collaborates with interested partners to help Member States gain timely access to relevant nuclear infrastructure and services based on research reactors to achieve their capacity building and R&D objectives through International Centres based on Research Reactors, Collaborating Centres, the Internet Reactor Laboratory project, and research reactor networks.   

COP29 will take place from 11 to 22 November 2024, in Baku, Azerbaijan. (Photo: Adobe Stock)

As the world grapples with the escalating impacts of climate change, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi will join global leaders and stakeholders at the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), or COP29, to highlight the vast potential of nuclear solutions for climate change mitigation, adaptation and monitoring.

The IAEA will showcase nuclear solutions for climate action in some 40 events at COP29, which will take place from 11 to 22 November 2024, in Baku, Azerbaijan. The Agency’s Atoms4Climate pavilion will feature an exhibit on nuclear applications, with IAEA experts ready to answer questions about how nuclear energy contributes to net-zero emissions and how nuclear science can address climate-related challenges to food security, water resources and ocean health.

COP29 will build on the global consensus that emerged at COP28 in Dubai, 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.

“At COP28, the world agreed nuclear power must be part of the transition to net zero,” said IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi in the runup to COP29. “We know investment in nuclear power can lower grid costs and speed up the deployment of intermittent clean-energy sources like wind and solar. As the world moves from consensus to construction, the IAEA supports newcomer countries in establishing safe, secure, safeguarded and sustainable nuclear power programmes.”

COP29 also follows on the first-ever Nuclear Energy Summit, hosted in Brussels by the IAEA and the Government of Belgium in March 2024, where leaders from more than 30 countries reaffirmed their commitment to nuclear energy as a way to reduce carbon emissions and meet development goals.