18 September 2015: Delegates to the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) 59th annual General Conference recognized clear linkages between the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Agency’s work, also adopting resolutions on strengthening IAEA’s work on nuclear science and technology, safety, security, safeguards and technical cooperation, and approving the IAEA budget for 2016-2017.
Over 3,000 delegates from 165 IAEA member states, international organizations and other stakeholders attended the conference, which convened from 14-18 September 2015, in Vienna, Austria. It included a general plenary debate and numerous side and special events, including the two-day Scientific Forum.
In his opening address, Director General Yukiya Amano welcomed the SDGs’ explicit recognition of the importance of science and technology in advancing development. He emphasized linkages between the SDGs and IAEA’s work on energy, environmental health, food security and nutrition, human health and water resource management. Amano said the SDGs will be incorporated into national development plans and then reflected in IAEA’s Country Programme Frameworks. On climate change, Amano suggested “appropriate consideration should be given to nuclear power in talks on climate change mitigation.” He said nuclear power “is one of the lowest emitters of carbon dioxide among energy sources when emissions through entire life cycles are considered,” describing it as an energy source with low environmental impact that can contribute to avoidance of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
“We should not underestimate the actual and potential contribution [of] nuclear applications” to providing solutions to the challenges that will be addressed through the post-2015 development agenda, particularly for Least Developed Countries (LDCs), said the President of the Conference, Filippo Formica, Italy.
Outgoing President of the 58th General Conference, Aliya Lebbe Abdul Azeez, Sri Lanka, highlighted IAEA’s role in efforts to achieve the post-2015 agenda and the SDGs, noting that the Goals will contribute to strengthening global peace and security. He said international cooperation and peaceful and safe secure use of nuclear technology then will positively impact socio-economic development.
During a side event, ‘Atoms for Peace and Development: IAEA and the Post-2015 SDGs,’ participants discussed how IAEA can assist governments in implementing and achieving the SDGs. Participants emphasized, inter alia: the linkages between the SDGs and science and technology; opportunities for collaboration and coordination across the UN on the SDGs; translation of scientific achievements into actions that help address challenges; and access to technology and innovation for LDCs, including through the proposed technology bank.
African member states discussed the role of nuclear power in increasing access to electricity in Africa, during a side event. Addressing the event, Amano noted that over 30 member states are considering nuclear power programmes, and one-third of these countries are in Africa and most are developing countries. Representatives from Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria and South Africa presented the status of their national programme planning on nuclear power.
Other side events included: ‘Managing Soils for Climate-Smart Agriculture: Celebrating the International Year of Soil,’ which highlighted the role of the agency in enhancing member states capacity in climate-smart agriculture as it related to soil and water management; and ‘The Future We Want: Comprehensive Cancer Control in the Post-2015 Agenda’ which presented a new application for use in fighting cancer. [59th General Conference Website] [UN Press Release] [IAEA Director General Statement] [IAEA Press Release, 16 September] [IAEA Press Release, 17 September] [IAEA Press Release, 18 September] [IAEA Press Release on SDG Side Event] [Conference Highlights, Day 3] [Conference Statements]