- Global Commitment: Companies from over 140 countries unite in a Net Zero Nuclear Industry Pledge, aligning with 24 governments to support a large-scale expansion of nuclear energy by 2050.
- Ambitious Targets: The pledge emphasizes the need for nuclear energy capacity to triple by 2050, advocating for sustainable economic development, decarbonization, and enhanced energy resilience and security.
- Collaborative Efforts: The nuclear industry commits to mobilizing investments, collaborating with governments, regulators, and stakeholders, and expressing gratitude for Ministerial Declarations, fostering a worldwide push toward clean and reliable nuclear energy.
Companies from over 140 countries have united in a significant commitment to expand nuclear energy, aligning their goals with the 24 countries endorsing a Ministerial Declaration for a shared 2050 objective.
Sama Bilbao y León, the Director General of the World Nuclear Association, the global representative of the nuclear industry, emphasizes the necessity of setting an ambitious yet achievable target. She asserts that only such a target can facilitate the substantial contribution needed from nuclear energy to achieve sustainable economic development and mitigate the severe consequences of uncontrolled climate change.
The Net Zero Nuclear Industry Pledge highlights that, on average, nuclear generation has supplied 2500 TWh of electricity annually since 2000. Globally, nuclear reactors contribute roughly 10% of the world’s electricity and about a quarter of all clean, low-carbon electricity. Forecasts from the International Atomic Energy Agency predict a significant increase in electricity demand by 2050.
The pledge emphasizes that all available low-emission technologies, including nuclear, should be acknowledged and actively supported to achieve sustainable economic development and counter the devastating consequences of unchecked climate change. Recognizing the pivotal role of governments, the pledge urges the implementation of policies and equal access to financing for nuclear, ensuring deployment at a global scale.
The responsibility for implementing policy objectives lies with the nuclear industry. Signatories commit to various actions, including advocating for faster growth of nuclear energy capacity than the increase in global electricity demand, supporting a tripling of capacity by 2050, mobilizing or supporting investments in nuclear power, and collaborating with governments, regulators, and stakeholders to maximize contributions from existing nuclear power plants while responsibly accelerating new nuclear deployment.
Expressing gratitude to governments endorsing the Ministerial Declaration, the pledge commits to supporting them in implementing nuclear policy objectives aligned with the set targets and goals.
Sama Bilbao y León further urges the translation of ambition into pragmatic policies, good intentions into affordable financing, and deadlines into the timely and budgeted delivery of new nuclear energy projects.
Maria Korsnick, President and CEO of the Nuclear Energy Institute in the USA, underscores the positive momentum for nuclear energy. She emphasizes its carbon-free nature, reliability, job creation, and contribution to energy security. While acknowledging the favorable environment, she notes challenges in areas like supply chains and workforce, emphasizing the need for collaborative efforts.
John Gorman from the Canadian Nuclear Association praises the remarkable progress in recognizing the pragmatic necessity of clean electricity expansion. He emphasizes the challenge of doubling or tripling clean electricity production and the global significance of this endeavor.
Tom Greatrex, chief executive of the UK’s Nuclear Industry Association, welcomes the industry pledge, affirming readiness to scale nuclear power for achieving net-zero and securing future energy systems. He anticipates the UK’s plan to triple capacity, as outlined in the Nuclear Roadmap in the coming year.
This commitment unfolds during COP28 in Dubai, UAE, where representatives from nearly 200 governments are gathering to continue efforts to limit the global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
