Essay by Eric Worrall

The International Atomic Energy Agency has called for papers ahead of the Atoms4NetZero Conference in October 2023. The papers must be submitted by 28th April.

Call for Papers: The Role of Nuclear Power in Mitigating Climate Change — Atoms4NetZero

Bianca Carpinelli, IAEA Department of Nuclear Energy

Interested contributors have until 28 April 2023 to submit abstracts for the IAEA’s second International Conference on Climate Change and the Role of Nuclear Power: Atoms4NetZero, to be held in Vienna, Austria, from 9 to 13 October 2023.

The conference will provide an opportunity for policy makers, academics and other experts to discuss the role of nuclear power in mitigating climate change and in contributing to the transition to net zero emissions, as well as challenges facing the nuclear sector and tapping its full potential through innovation, improved economics and stakeholder engagement. The event will also serve as a platform for the nuclear community to actively engage in a dialogue with all relevant stakeholders at the policy and technical levels.

“In these unprecedented times, as countries seek to address the climate crisis along with the need for greater energy security, this conference is timely,” said IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi. “For half a century, nuclear power has been a major source of clean and reliable electricity and together with renewables such as hydro, solar and wind power, nuclear power can be the backbone of clean energy systems, helping to mitigate climate change and achieve the sustainable development goals.”

…

Read more: https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/call-for-papers-the-role-of-nuclear-power-in-mitigating-climate-change-atoms4netzero

I can’t help thinking the nuclear lobby has made a terrible strategic blunder going all in for net zero.

On the surface nuclear power for Net Zero seems a no brainer – if you want to reduce emissions quickly, nuclear is the only proven option.

But by tying themselves to a goal which is at best technically illiterate, the nuclear lobby risks undermining their credibility.

The one thing someone who wants to build a nuclear power plant has to establish is trust. People have to believe they can trust the operators of any proposed or operational nuclear power plant not to cut corners, or do anything which might endanger the lives of their neighbours.

In my opinion, watching the nuclear lobby shamelessly court the Net Zero movement does not help me feel more trust. If the nuclear lobby are that desperate for attention, how can we trust them to be totally honest in their communications on other matters of importance?

By cosying up to Net Zero advocates, the nuclear lobby might win a few greens, but they risk losing ground with conservatives who despise the Net Zero watermelons.

And winning greens to nuclear seems a long shot. Most Net Zero supporters I’ve met long since decided there is no place for nuclear power in their renewable energy filled vision of the future.