In a historic move, over 30 government leaders convened in Brussels on Thursday for the first-ever Nuclear Energy Summit, adopting a declaration to “fully unlock” the potential of nuclear energy worldwide.
The summit, jointly hosted by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Belgium, marked a significant commitment to support countries, especially emerging nuclear nations, in integrating nuclear energy into their energy mixes. “We commit to support all countries, especially emerging nuclear ones, in their capacities and efforts to add nuclear energy to their energy mixes,” the declaration stated.
The leaders agreed on constructing new nuclear power plants and accelerating the deployment of advanced reactors, including small modular reactors, while maintaining the highest safety and security standards. The aim is to bolster nuclear energy’s role in global energy strategies and address pressing climate goals.
Held adjacent to the iconic Atomium—the 102-meter-tall structure representing iron atoms, symbolizing peaceful nuclear energy use—the summit sought to reinvigorate nuclear energy’s peaceful mission established post-World War II.
Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency, emphasized nuclear energy’s critical role in achieving climate targets. “Without the support of nuclear power, we have no chance to reach our climate targets on time,” Birol asserted. “Renewables will play the major role in terms of electricity, especially solar supported by wind and hydropower. But we also need nuclear power, especially in those countries where we don’t have major renewable potential.”
Birol highlighted the necessity to increase nuclear capacity, which currently accounts for less than 10 percent of global electricity generation. “We have to do whatever we can to increase the current nuclear capacity,” he urged.
France, leading Europe in nuclear energy with nuclear power comprising about two-thirds of its electricity, underscored the benefits of its nuclear model. French President Emmanuel Macron stated, “Thanks to the nuclear model, France is one of the few countries that exports its electricity, which is an opportunity.”
Macron stressed the urgency of transitioning away from fossil fuels. “We should be much more concerned about, for example, CO2 emissions, which have a direct impact on you and me and on our health every day,” he said. “Our priority must be to get out of coal and gas and move towards nuclear power and renewable energy.”
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi highlighted financing as a pivotal issue for nuclear energy’s expansion. “We still have an international and institutional architecture that forbids financing of nuclear projects,” Grossi noted, calling for nuclear projects to receive equal treatment in financing as other energy initiatives.
Grossi expressed optimism, citing the COP28 climate conference’s acknowledgment of nuclear energy as part of the solution, which could pave the way for securing funding. “Many decisions of financial institutions depend on governments wanting something or not opposing it,” he explained.
The declaration adopted at the summit represents a unified global effort to harness nuclear energy’s potential in combating climate change and ensuring energy security. As nations strive to meet ambitious climate targets, nuclear energy’s role is poised to become increasingly significant in the global energy landscape.
Reference(s):
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