IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi met with the heads of the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) yesterday to discuss joining forces to combat cancer and to address climate change and other areas critical for sustainable development.
Mr Grossi held talks with World Bank President David Malpass and IDB President Mauricio Claver-Carone, during a visit to Washington, DC. Both the World Bank and the IDB are based in the US capital, where he also met with senior government officials, prominent lawmakers, think-tank experts and others this week to discuss the IAEA’s wide range of work.
At the World Bank and the IDB, Mr Grossi highlighted the many ways nuclear technology, techniques and science help improve people’s lives, from human health to food security, water management and more. With just ten days to go before COP26 starts in Glasgow, he spoke about the vital role of nuclear energy in climate change mitigation and adaptation.
“The three organizations share the overarching objective of doing everything they can to ensure a better future for the planet and for coming generations. By working together and drawing on each other’s unique strengths and skills, we can maximize the impact of our efforts to address the most pressing threats and challenges of our time,” he said.
The Director General said he hoped his meetings with the World Bank and the IDB would mark the start to develop new and deeper working relations with the two institutions, whose activities focus on alleviating poverty and building better livelihoods for billions of people around the world.
“I’m very encouraged by today’s positive and constructive discussions. I expect they will yield concrete results in enhancing our cooperation in coming months and years,” he said.