Second International Conference on Climate Change and the role of Nuclear Power 2023: Atoms4NetZero

Registration for Virtual Attendance as an Observer

Those who would like to follow the conference virtually through the IAEA Conference and Meetings App as an observer only, should register using the following link:

» Observer Registration Virtual Attendance Only →

Background

Climate change is one of the most important issues the world is facing today. The 2022 IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Reports (AR6) highlight that while steps have been taken, the world must mobilize faster and at greater scale than it has done so far to mitigate the catastrophic consequences of climate change. The IPCC Working Group III Co-Chair, Professor Jim Skea, says that “It’s now or never, if we want to limit global warming to 1.5°C”. The International Energy Agency (IEA) 2021 Flagship report, “Net Zero by 2050: A Roadmap for the Global Energy Sector”, corroborated that viewpoint when it stated that the “gap between rhetoric and action needs to close if we are to have a fighting chance of reaching net zero by 2050 and limiting the rise in global temperatures to 1.5 °C.” 

To reach climate change goals, including those established in the Paris Agreement, a significantly greater deployment of low carbon energy technologies is needed. Historically, nuclear power has avoided around 70 Gt CO2 in the last five decades, avoids more than 1 Gt CO2 every year in the current decade and is still globally the second source of low carbon power behind hydropower. Nuclear power has the potential to continue playing a significant role in achieving the Paris Agreement mitigation goals and contributing to the transition towards net zero energy systems. As a large scale, reliable, dispatchable, and concentrated source of energy, it can also help address the on-going disruptions in global energy supply, the subsequent energy crisis and support global sustainable development.

To respond to the increasing interest in nuclear power’s contribution to the fight against climate change, and further elaborate on the role of nuclear power in net zero transitions, the IAEA is organizing the second International Conference from 9 to 13 October 2023, in Vienna. The conference will provide another opportunity for the nuclear community to elaborate the attributes of nuclear power in the context of climate change and net zero transitions, discuss the main challenges facing the nuclear sector and explore solutions for tapping the full potential of nuclear power, through incentivizing innovation, establishing an enabling environment, improving economics, and addressing stakeholder engagement, among others. It will also serve as an important platform for the nuclear community to establish a dialogue with the non-nuclear community at policy and technical levels.

Purpose and Objectives

The purpose of the event is to provide a forum for Member States, representatives of relevant low carbon energy sectors, international organizations, and other stakeholders to exchange information on the role of nuclear power in the energy transitions towards net zero emissions, consistent with the objectives of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius by the end of the century.

The conference themes include the mitigation challenge and implications for the energy sector; the climate-resilience of energy systems; the roles of existing, evolutionary, and innovative nuclear power systems as well as the integration of nuclear–renewable energy systems; enabling environments for realizing the full potential of nuclear power; and international cooperation and stakeholder engagement.

Target Audience

Participation in the Conference is solicited from decision makers, regulators, experts, scholars, public and other stakeholders from the Member States, international organizations, industry, academia, and non-governmental organizations involved in nuclear energy, climate change, environment, economic and social development portfolios. The Conference foresees the participation of the invited speakers to provide keynote presentations and/or take part in panel discussions.

Exhibitions

A limited amount of space will be available for commercial vendors’ displays/exhibits during the conference. Interested parties should contact the Scientific Secretariat by email Atoms4Climate-2023@iaea.org by 31 May 2023.