World leaders declare support for tripling global nuclear capacity to reach net zero

In an unprecedented gathering in the midst of COP28, leaders from around the world joined in committing to tripling global nuclear capacity by 2050 as part of the transition to net zero.

The Declaration to Triple Nuclear Energy Capacity by 2050 has been endorsed by the Heads of State of nine countries at the ceremony, with declaration endorsement from 21 countries in total, comprising Canada, Czechia, Ghana, Finland, Hungary, Japan, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Netherlands, Poland, Republic of Korea, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, the United States of America and the United Kingdom.

The Declaration lays out the importance of nuclear energy as a clean, reliable energy source and the imperative for accelerating the development of nuclear energy in order to meet energy needs, including clean electrons and clean molecules such as steam and hydrogen, as well as process heat, to meet climate goals.

The ceremony took place at the Rove Hotel in front of international dignitaries and industry leaders during COP28 in Dubai, where the global community are gathering to discuss the actions required to mitigate climate change and ensure global temperatures remain with 1.5 degrees of pre-industrial temperatures. Global energy systems account for around 70 per cent of total carbon emissions, with power production generating almost 30 per cent of total emissions. Decarbonising electricity, heating, industrial processes and transportation is therefore a crucial driver to reduce emissions.

The Declaration recognises the importance of nuclear energy in achieving global net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, emphasising that nuclear is already the second-largest source of clean, dispatchable baseload power globally, and the largest source of clean electricity for Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) nations. It acknowledges expert analysis from the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency, the World Nuclear Association, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and the International Energy Agency (IEA), all of whom conclude the need for significant expansion of nuclear energy capacity to meet emissions reductions goals. The Declaration encourages partnerships, commitments, and innovations from additional governments and financial organisations, including the World Bank, to unleash the political will and resources required for such an expansion.

ALSO READ:

• UAE: $777 million pledge to defeat neglected tropical diseases, help 1.6 billion affected

• UAE President, UN Secretary-General discuss COP28 agenda and regional developments

• Pope urges leaders to put climate fight over national interests

• COP28: Sustainable communities at the heart of climate action