The International Conference on Nuclear and Radiological Emergencies (EPR2025) is underway in Riyadh, organised by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in cooperation with Saudi Arabia’s Nuclear & Radiological Regulatory Commission (NRRC). The conference will identify priorities for strengthening emergency preparedness and response (EPR) under the theme Building the Future in an Evolving World.
More than 450 participants from over 100 countries and four international organisations are attending the four-day event. Experts, emergency responders, regulators and technical specialists are presenting new research and discussing practical measures to strengthen global nuclear and radiological EPR.
IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi, in a video message to the conference noted: “First, nuclear energy depends on trust, and this trust is earned through robust, science-based emergency preparedness and response. Public confidence hinges on people knowing that authorities are prepared and seeing them act effectively when it matters most. Nuclear safety, security and emergency preparedness must come first, and must be credible and transparent.”
In her opening address, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Nuclear Safety & Security, Karine Herviou, said, “Preparedness is not about responding to yesterday’s risks, but about building robust and adaptive systems that continue to function when several of the conditions we take for granted fail at once.”
Conference President NRRC CEO Dr Khalid Aleissa said: “This conference stands as a testament to the Kingdom’s unwavering commitment to advancing the peaceful applications of nuclear science and technology, while upholding the highest standards of safety, security, and preparedness.” He added: “Through the integration of emerging technologies, the exchange of practical experience, and deeper collaboration with the IAEA and our international partners, we collectively enhance global resilience in nuclear and radiological emergency preparedness and response.”
The conference features an extensive technical programme covering the full spectrum of nuclear emergency preparedness and response. Plenary sessions and keynote lectures addressed coordination and cooperation in EPR, public communication, innovative technologies, capacity building, protection strategies, the interface between nuclear safety and security – and much more.
Roundtables focused on issues at the forefront of international collaboration, including artificial intelligence applications for emergency management, effective decision-making under uncertainty, how emergency exercises can strengthen preparedness, and emergency arrangements for floating and mobile reactors.
Conference Vice President and global expert in radiation protection, Abel González, in his keynote address identified the core issues being tackled by the meeting. “As we look to the future, three challenges demand our attention: improving how countries implement the international conventions on early notification and assistance, addressing long-standing misunderstandings about low-dose radiation risks and how they are managed, and ensuring our emergency preparedness frameworks fully account for the realities of military conflict.”
A Women in Nuclear side event will highlight the expertise and achievements of women driving progress in emergency preparedness and response. Dedicated activities for young professionals and students provided a platform for early-career specialists to engage directly with international experts. An infographic design competition for young people showcased creative approaches to communicating complex risk information to the public.
The Incident and Emergency Centre (IEC) is the IAEA’s global hub for preparedness and response coordination. The IEC operates 24 hours a day, receiving and verifying information, issuing alerts and facilitating international assistance under the Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident and the Convention on Assistance in the Case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency.
Through mechanisms such as the Response & Assistance Network (RANET), the Unified System for Information Exchange in Incidents & Emergencies (USIE) and the International Radiation Monitoring Information System (IRMIS), IAEA helps countries access timely, verified information and specialised assistance.
IAEA also provides extensive capacity-building opportunities, including training, peer review missions and virtual learning tools. Recent developments, such as virtual reality simulation modules for first responders, enhance national training programmes and enable countries to test and refine their response arrangements in realistic environments.
