IAEA to Advocate for Nuclear Solutions at COP29
As global leaders and stakeholders gather in Baku for COP29, Rafael Mariano Grossi, the IAEA Director General, will promote the increasing significance of nuclear solutions in tackling climate change.
The IAEA will showcase how nuclear technology aids climate change efforts and supports net-zero emissions through 40 events.
Nuclear Power and Net-Zero Goals
The IAEA’s Atoms4Climate pavilion will provide insights into how nuclear applications can respond effectively to climate action demands.
Experts will discuss nuclear energy’s role in achieving net-zero emissions by stabilizing grid costs and supporting renewables.
The organisation will highlight nuclear science’s impact on food security, climate change and ocean health management.
This year’s discussions build on COP28, highlighting the need to accelerate low-emission technologies, like nuclear energy, for decarbonization.
General Rafael Mariano Grossi, IAEA Director General said, “At COP28, the world agreed nuclear power must be part of the transition to net zero.”
He added, “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.”
Also read: Climate finance at COP29 may settle in the ‘hundreds of billions,’ say key negotiators
Financing Climate Solutions
Grossi will discuss financing low-carbon technologies, including nuclear, at COP29 on November 13.
The event will highlight the need for investment in nuclear energy as a low-carbon technology.
A UN report shows that current policies and investments can’t meet the 1.5°C target of the Paris Agreement.
Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) offer a flexible and cost-effective solution for energy grids and high-demand industries.
The IAEA, in collaboration with the US government, will organize a specific event to investigate the potential of SMRs.
These reactors have strong potential for developing nations with specific energy needs, highlighting nuclear technology’s versatility.
Also read: Ahead of COP29, India to Stress Paris Agreement Principles on Climate Finance
Supporting Sustainable Development Goals
At COP29, the IAEA will present nuclear innovations for food security, water conservation, and marine health.
On November 12, Grossi will take part in an initiative aimed at decarbonizing the cotton-to-clothing supply chain, collaborating with UNIDO, FAO, and the World Trade Organization.
This event will focus on how multisectoral partnerships can effectively reduce emissions and bolster climate resilience in the cotton industry.
Moreover, the IAEA will introduce the Atoms4Food initiative on November 12 in cooperation with China.
This program demonstrates nuclear technology in climate-smart agriculture for food security, with a South-South cooperation event on November 20, co-hosted by CGIAR and FAO.
The agency highlights the need for scientific water resource management as climate conditions change.
On November 18, the IAEA will host an event on nuclear advancements for climate solutions, focusing on agriculture and pollution.
The event will stress international cooperation and funding for effective climate solutions.
