Planning & Economic Studies Section (PESS):
Capacity Building for Sustainable Energy Development

Climate change and sustainable development

The IAEA's Nuclear Applications Department contributes to sustainable development through nuclear techniques applied to medicine (both diagnosis and treatment), public health, nutrition, agriculture, removing landmines, food safety, erosion and climate tracking, water resources, pollution control and other industrial applications. Within the Nuclear Energy Department, PESS addresses international negotiations on climate change and sustainable development.

During the 56th IAEA General Conference PESS organized a Side Event on Sustainable Energy Development after Rio+20: PESS support to Member States. The critical role energy plays in the development process is recognized in the outcome document of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), which emphasizes the importance of access to modern energy services for all from a mix including renewable sources, other low-emission and advanced technologies. Activities in PESS's work programme help Member States implement these calls. This side event provided an overview of recently achieved milestones and new initiatives in energy planning tools and capacity building, as well as in energy-economy-environment analysis in sustainable energy development. To learn more about this side event and to view the presentations given, please click here.

The links below connect to summaries, IAEA inputs and general information for key negotiations at international conferences and studies.

• 18th Session of the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties / 8th Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol: CoP-18 / CMP-8 (25 November - 7 December 2012)
• The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, Rio +20 (13 to 22 June 2012)
• 17th Session of the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties / 7th Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol: CoP-17 / CMP-7 (28 November - 9 December 2011)
• 19th Session of the Commission on Sustainable Development: CSD-19 (2-13 May 2011)
• 18th Session of the Commission on Sustainable Development: CSD-18 (3-14 May 2010)
• 15th Session of the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties / 5th Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol: CoP-15 / CMP-5 (7-18 December 2009)
• 17th Session of the Commission on Sustainable Development: CSD-17 (4-15 May 2009)
• 14th Session of the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties / 4th Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol: CoP-14 / MoP-4 (1-12 December 2008)
• 16th Session of the Commission on Sustainable Development: CSD-16 (5-16 May 2008)
• 13th Session of the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties / 3rd Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol: CoP-13 / MoP-3 (3-14 December 2007)
• 15th Session of the Commission on Sustainable Development: CSD-15 (30 April-11 May 2007)
• 12th Session of the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties / 2nd Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol: CoP-12 / MoP-2 (6-17 November 2006)
• 14th Session of the Commission on Sustainable Development: CSD-14 (1-12 May 2006)
• 11th Session of the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties / 1st Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol: CoP-11 / MoP-1 (28 November - 2 December 2005)
• IPCC Special Report on Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage (2005)
• The World Climate Change Conference (WCCC), Moscow (29 September - 3 October 2003)
• The World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD), Johannesburg, South Africa (26 August - 4 September 2002)
• Part 2 of the 6th Session of the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties: CoP-6bis (16-27 July 2001)
• 9th Session of the Commission on Sustainable Development: CSD-9 (16-27 April 2001)
• 6th Session of the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties: CoP-6 (13-24 November 2000)
• World Energy Assessment (WEA, 2000)
• IPCC Special Report on Emissions Scenarios (SRES, 2000)