IAEA at COP29: Highlights

Nuclear technologies were in the focus at an event on science, technology and innovation for climate-resilient agrifood systems.

The IAEA and the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) highlighted their joint work to advance climate-smart agriculture and foster sustainable food systems globally. They also signed a Memorandum of Understanding to formalize their decades-long partnership.

“Our partnership shows how our combined efforts can lead to practical solutions befitting people, planet and prosperity,” said Ismahane Elouafi, CGIAR Executive Managing Director. 

“Let’s build on what we have done before, finetune it and make it scalable,” said Najat Mokhtar, IAEA Deputy Director and Head of the Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications. “Let’s build on each other’s connectivity and continue innovation by looking at tools that have shown impact.”  

The Guarani Aquifer System is a vital water resource shared by Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, sustaining millions and serving as a critical buffer against the impacts of climate change. The 2020 agreement on managing this aquifer was highlighted as a model of international cooperation in diplomacy and science at an event on strengthening transboundary water resilience.  

“By fostering water diplomacy and grounding our efforts in scientific knowledge, we can protect the lifeblood of our planet and build a future where water is a source of peace and resilience,” said Iara Giacomini, Director of River Basin Rehabilitation, Access to Water and Multiple Use of Water Resources at Brazil's Ministry of Environment and Climate Change. 

The Guarani Aquifer plays a key role in supporting regional economic growth and future climate resilience. The IAEA is helping to advance scientific collaboration and capacity building across the aquifer’s countries, supporting the sustainable management of groundwater and providing data to help ensure its reliability even under changing climate patterns. 

To follow a recording of the event, please click here  

So far over 30 countries have joined the pledge launched last year at COP28 to work towards tripling their nuclear energy capacity by 2050.

Achieving this ambitious goal will require significant financing, to the tune of about 150 billion USD annually according to a new IAEA report. This would represent a threefold increase from the 50 billion USD invested in the industry annually from 2017 through 2023. Getting there will require innovative thinking and new financing approaches.  

An event organized by the Nuclear Energy Agency and the Nuclear Energy Institute last Friday explored recent progress in nuclear financing and how to foster greater investment. Senior officials from governments, nuclear organizations and the private sector took part in the discussion.

Underscoring the commitment of Sweden’s new government to expand and maintain the country’s nuclear reactor fleet, Daniel Westling, State Secretary to Sweden’s Ministry of Climate and the Environment, said, “I am convinced we will be able to reduce the financial risks.”

Private investment was highlighted as crucial for increasing nuclear power financing. Increased international collaboration was also identified as an important element of success.

“People want competitive offers,” said Michel Hejidra, Vice Minister for Climate and Energy at the Netherlands’ Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy. “We need regional cooperation.”

Speakers from the United States of America and the IAEA also joined the discussion, addressing sustainable financing and the importance of partnerships.

“I discovered so many things when I started working at the IAEA, so I invite you to learn more,” said Najat Mokhtar, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications, at a networking event for young people considering or already pursuing careers in the nuclear field. “We are looking to you as the next generation,” she added.

Young professionals had the chance to meet with IAEA staff and other nuclear experts to learn about nuclear career paths and IAEA programmes supporting young nuclear science and technology specialists. Featured programmes included the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship and Lise Meitner Programme, which support education and career development in the nuclear field for women professionals, as well as fellowship opportunities through the IAEA technical cooperation programme.  

The event was organized in collaboration with Women in Nuclear: Young Generation, the African Young Nuclear Generation and the International Youth Nuclear Congress. 

The IAEA is at COP29 in Baku, putting into place concrete measures to help countries use nuclear science and technology to fight climate change. 

This short film summarizes the Agency's work over the first week. Nuclear events and climate negotiations will continue at the conference until November 22. 

Head to the IAEA Atoms4Climate Pavilion at COP29 to find out more about how nuclear science and technology provides solutions for climate change mitigation, adaptation and monitoring. The Pavilion is in the Blue Zone and is designed around four thematic areas: energy, food, the ocean and water.  

Take part in informed debate on how nuclear technology and applications can be used to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, build resilience to the impacts of climate change and provide data for decision making.  

The Atoms4Climate pavilion provides a space for government leaders, civil society, academia and media, as well as the nuclear science and technology community, to gather and share their thoughts on innovation in the nuclear field.  

See you at the Atoms4Climate Pavilion! 

Introducing or expanding nuclear power as a low-carbon source of energy requires a long-term commitment. The IAEA supports countries in creating an enabling environment, adequate infrastructure and human capacity to facilitate the safe and secure introduction or expansion of nuclear power, including new technologies such as small modular reactors. 

An IAEA event on Wednesday showcased how countries have benefited from an IAEA interregional project that supports the development of national infrastructure for safe, secure and peaceful nuclear power programmes. Panellists shared their national experience – including challenges – in introducing nuclear energy using the IAEA 19 milestone approach and in complying with international legal instruments and safety standards. They spoke about the vital role of partnerships in this effort, especially to build or boost nuclear infrastructure safely and securely. 

“IAEA technical cooperation projects related to nuclear power infrastructure development have been very beneficial for newcomer countries,” said Dimas Irawan, a policy analyst at Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency. He highlighted this project’s benefits for Indonesia, including increased awareness among key national stakeholders of the importance of strengthening nuclear infrastructure, increasing human resources capacity and expanding networks with IAEA and international experts, institutions and technology providers. 

Thursday is another busy day for the IAEA at COP29!

Start your day at the IAEA’s Atoms4Climate pavilion to learn how nuclear energy, science and technology can help tackle the impacts of climate change.

Inspiring the next generation of energy leaders to promote innovation and speed up the transition to a sustainable future is the aim of an event on advancing sustainable technologies globally hosted by the International Youth Nuclear Congress in collaboration with Women in Renewable Energy and Women in Nuclear.

An event on nuclear energy for clean energy transitions will highlight the growing momentum for nuclear energy as a driver of the clean energy transition, showcasing good practices from countries with longstanding experience operating nuclear power plants and exploring pathways for countries that wish to embark on nuclear programmes.

An event devoted to financing the low-carbon energy transition in Asia and the Pacific will share insights into best practices in transition finance, blended finance, de-risking strategies and capacity building with the aim of empowering stakeholders in emerging markets and developing economies in the region.

The IAEA will be at an event on aligning food systems, nutrition and climate action to explore creating synergies to amplify collective impact. 

The IAEA will announce a new joint publication on SDG 13 (Climate Action) with the UN Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) at an event on accelerating South-South and triangular cooperation..

Find out more about our events at COP29 here.

“SMRs can be game-changers for sustainable power, meeting needs from district heating to AI data centers, while decarbonizing industries like steel and petrochemicals,” said IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi at an event today on ‘Accelerating Early Deployment of Small Modular Reactors’ co-organized by the IAEA and the United States of America. The event focused on ways to speed up implementation of SMR projects, which the IAEA estimates will comprise a quarter of new nuclear capacity by 2050.

Speakers from the U.S. Government, Google, the South Korean steel manufacturer POSCO and the IAEA discussed infrastructure and regulatory hurdles that need to be overcome to enable faster rollout of SMRs. They also highlighted how stakeholders, including end users and vendors, are navigating these challenges.

“Not only are utilities stepping up, but large end users from the IT sector, and heavy manufacturing. Utilities and developers are on the ground helping with development,” said Ali Zaidi, Assistant to the U.S. President and National Climate Advisor. “In the US we have relied on utilities to carry these technologies forward, and what we’re seeing now is the first adaptors, companies like Google, working in partnership with developers.”

The event highlighted new partnerships, including a deal between Google and Kairos Power to deploy 500 MW of SMR capacity by 2035, and emerging opportunities for financing.

Good, thought-provoking exchange with leaders like 🇺🇸 @ClimateAtState @alizaidi46, 🇰🇷 POSCO’s VP Kim Hee-hee and @Google’s Sustainability Director Antonia Gawel. Thanks for your commitment to a cleaner energy future. pic.twitter.com/bW99pLLhpt

— Rafael MarianoGrossi (@rafaelmgrossi) November 13, 2024

On Wednesday, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi will address a high-level event hosted by the COP29 Presidency on “Financing Low Carbon Technology, including Nuclear Energy.” This event will discuss the financing options needed for the massive expansion of low-carbon technology deployment in developed countries as well as in emerging markets and developing economies. Mr. Grossi will highlight the crucial role of governments, multilateral development banks and the private sector in scaling up nuclear energy. 

Mr. Grossi will also co-host a high-level event with Mr. John Podesta, Senior Advisor to the U.S. President for International Climate Policy, on accelerating deployment of small modular reactors (SMRs), which offer flexible, cost-effective options for powering small energy grids, making them suitable for developing countries as well as energy-intensive industries and data centers. Featured speakers will include: Mr. Herbert Krapa, Minister of State, Ministry of Energy of Ghana; Ms. Kim Hee, Executive Vice President, Head of the Carbon Neutrality Strategy Office, POSCO; and Ms. Antonia Gawel, Global Director for Sustainability and Partnerships at Google.  

Mr. Grossi will also join the Minister of Environment of the Republic of Tajikistan and other high-level speakers at an event on bridging the financial gap to address climate change and foster glacier preservation. The IAEA and Tajikistan have collaborated on monitoring glacial retreat and the impacts of climate change on soil and water resources.    

Other IAEA events tomorrow will focus on introducing and expanding nuclear programmes and SMRs for Arctic sustainable development.  

Find more about our events at COP29 here. 

Nuclear techniques were in the spotlight at a high-level event today on decarbonizing the cotton-to-clothing value chain. IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi joined prominent speakers from governments, international organizations, financing institutions and the private sector in addressing the event.

Co-organized with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), World Trade Organization (WTO) and the Government of Pakistan, the event focused on multi-sectoral partnerships for promoting innovative technologies, policies and models to decarbonize the cotton sector and strengthen resilience to climate change.

In countries such as Azerbaijan, Burkina Faso and Pakistan, millions of farmers depend on cotton for a living, yet the crop is highly vulnerable to climate fluctuations. That’s why these and other countries are working with the IAEA and FAO to develop and introduce new, more climate-resilient varieties of cotton using nuclear techniques.

“Through nuclear techniques we develop seeds that are stronger, that can grow even in drought conditions, and that are more reliable and have a higher production yield,” according to Mr. Grossi.

Multi-stakeholder efforts like the “Cotton Partnership,” which also involves financial institutions and the private sector, are crucial to supporting the whole cotton value chain. In the words of Ms. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director General of the World Trade Organization, “We are doing win-win-win – winning at the production level having smart agriculture, the transformation level that also creates jobs, and the export level having smart trade procedures that use less emissions.”

The COP29 climate conference has kicked off in Baku, Azerbaijan and the IAEA is once again present to discuss all the ways that nuclear science and technology can help in the fight against climate change. 

On Tuesday, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi will take the stage with high-level representatives from UNIDO, the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Trade Organization and prominent speakers from governments, the private sector and financial institutions in an event on “Decarbonizing and Adapting the Cotton-to-Clothing Value Chain through Multisectoral Partnerships.” This event will highlight how innovative policies, technologies and partnerships can help decarbonize the cotton sector while building resilience to climate change.

You can also join our "Ask the IAEA" session on climate change and nuclear energy featuring IAEA experts at the Atoms4Climate pavilion.

Find more about our events at COP29 here.

Hello and welcome to the IAEA's coverage of COP29!

Over the next two weeks, the IAEA will host and participate in dozens of events highlighting contributions that nuclear energy, science and technology can make to climate action.

On 12 and 13 November, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi will join high-level officials for discussions on issues such as decarbonizing the cotton sector, financing nuclear energy and the flexible, cost-effective options for energy generation that small modular reactors offer.

The IAEA’s Atoms4Climate pavilion in the Blue Zone will provide a meeting and networking space for stakeholders from all sectors to explore the potential of nuclear solutions to climate-related challenges. The pavilion will feature an exhibit on nuclear applications in four key areas: energy, food, the oceans and water, and IAEA experts will be on hand to answer questions.

Stay tuned for the latest on IAEA activities at COP29! Find more information about IAEA events here.

COP29 will continue build on  the global consensus that emerged at last year’s climate change conference. At COP28, the Global Stocktake marked a historic turning point, calling for the deployment of nuclear energy to be accelerated to help reach net zero goals.

Read more about the increasingly prominent role nuclear power is playing in the clean energy transition, and what we can expect from this year’s climate change conference here.