Nuclear at COP28 -- ANS / Conferences / International Conference on Physics of Reactors (PHYSOR 2024) / Technical Sessions

How the UN Climate Conference Became “The Nuclear COP”

Nuclear energy had a watershed moment at COP28 in Dubai, helping to spur a global resurgence in this important clean energy source. Hear from people who were there and participated in processes that helped advance nuclear power. For the first time, nuclear energy was specifically included in the final statement agreed to by almost 200 countries as a key to achieving “deep, rapid, and sustained reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.” Inclusion of nuclear in the statement can facilitate international organizations financing of nuclear plant deployments. Over 20 countries, including the United States, pledged at COP28 to triple nuclear power globally by 2050. Companies at COP28 joined a parallel pledge to triple nuclear power in the same timeframe, and many companies signed contracts during COP28 to help achieve that goal. For the first time on a COP presidential stage, there was a panel only about nuclear energy. Young advocates worked throughout the two weeks of COP28 to help bring about these positive changes for nuclear energy. Even the Global Renewables and Energy Efficiency Pledge at COP28 noted that we will need a diversified portfolio of technologies “including nuclear energy for those countries that choose to use it.” Further steps are now being taken to advance nuclear energy in the months following COP28 so it can play a major role in the world’s clean energy future.

We wlll also discuss follow-up to COP28, including the Nuclear Energy Summit of heads of state that was announced at COP28 and held in Brussels on March 21, 2024 and planning for COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan later this year.

Panelists:

Meredith Eaheart is a PhD candidate in nuclear engineering and radiological sciences at the University of Michigan. She is in the fission option and her research interests include computational fluid dynamics, high-temperature gas reactors, and machine learning. Beyond her research, she is also interested in international climate policy and attended COP28 as part of the University of Michigan delegation.

Seth Grae (moderator) is CEO of Lightbridge Corporation. Lightbridge develops advanced fuels for water-cooled reactors to enhance economics, safety, and proliferation resistance. He has advised governments seeking to start nuclear power programs. He is Chair of the ANS International Council and a member of ANS’s Trustees of Nuclear Leadership Council and Rapid Response Task Force and a member of the Civil Nuclear Trade Advisory Committee (CINTAC) to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Nuclear Energy Institute’s Board of Directors, Working Group on Climate, Nuclear, and Security Affairs of the Council on Strategic Risks, and Board of Directors of the Virginia Nuclear Energy Consortium.

Paris Ortiz-Wines is Global Director of Stand Up for Nuclear. She oversees all of the organization’s outreach and engagement efforts. She has spearheaded in-person demonstrations and social media campaigns around the world, growing Stand Up from a single event to 67 events across 27 countries. She invites everyone to come join the movement fighting to save the world's most reliable source of clean energy.

Ryan Pickering is a solar industry veteran and energy policy researcher focused on balancing nuclear, renewables and conventional energies to achieve the conditions for global peace and prosperity. Ryan serves as Crew Facilitator for North Carolina State University’s Consent-Based Siting Consortia with Tribal Consent-Based Coalition, Mothers for Nuclear and the Department of Energy. He is a founding member of UC Berkeley's Nuclear is Clean Energy Club (NiCE).