Government and industry call for more nuclear energy to meet net zero targets

At the Roadmaps to New Nuclear conference, organised by the French Ministry for Energy Transition and the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) in Paris, the energy ministers of 20 countries agreed on a joint communiqué in which they highlight the need for nuclear energy to meet global energy challenges.

Nuclear energy is already a key part of the pathways to net zero in many countries, and it can play a much larger role, both through the continued operation of existing installations and the large-scale construction of new nuclear power plants.

This will require significant international co-operation, in particular to unlock access to financing, to harmonise and enable policy and regulatory frameworks, to support research and development, and to foster stable supply chains, including for nuclear fuel. Achieving these goals will depend on the further training of a skilled workforce and continued public engagement through transparent, inclusive, and responsible democratic decision-making processes.

During the Roadmaps to New Nuclear conference, nine industry nuclear bodies also came together to sign a joint communiqué setting out their readiness to work together with policymakers to rebuild leadership in nuclear energy across the world. They committed to deepening their existing co-operation to meet climate and energy security goals.

The communiqués and the discussions at the conference, which included energy ministers and leaders from industry, will help set the stage for joint, focused action by policymakers, utilities, and the private sector. This is particularly important in the run-up to the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) to be held in Dubai on 30 November – 12 December 2023.