20 April 2009: In a speech delivered during an international ministerial conference on nuclear energy in the 21st century, which took place in Beijing, China, from 20-22 April 2009, Mohamed ElBaradei, Director General, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), discussed the future of nuclear energy and the role of the IAEA.

Describing the current state of the nuclear energy sector, he underlined that it emits almost no greenhouse gases and is therefore seen by many as part of the solution to climate change. He added that the Kyoto Protocol and the European carbon trading scheme have created incentives for low-carbon electricity generation such as nuclear power and renewables. He pointed to the more positive public attitudes towards nuclear energy over the past decade, due to safety improvements and concerns about climate change. ElBaradei stressed the need for the industry to “remain open and transparent” in order to generate and maintain public trust. [The speech]