Rwanda and Senegal joined the global commitment to triple nuclear energy capacity by 2050 at COP30 in Belém, Brazil. They join 31 other countries in endorsing the Declaration to Triple Nuclear Energy, which was launched two years ago at COP28. Quite what this means is unclear as neither country has any nuclear power output at present.
The World Bank has said around 600m people in Sub-Saharan Africa lack access to electricity, representing nearly 83% of the world’s unelectrified population. This underscores the need to develop new sources of clean energy, including nuclear.
According to current International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) projections, in its high case scenario, Africa’s nuclear generating capacity will triple from 2024 to 2030, and increase sixteen-fold by 2050. IAEA says tripling global nuclear capacity in Africa by 2050 calls for closer cooperation among governments, the nuclear power industry, financial institutions and energy consumers. Achieving this goal will require an enabling policy environment, robust supply chains, a skilled and diverse workforce, and greater regulatory and industrial harmonisation and standardisation.
The pledge made at COP28 encouraged the World Bank, regional development banks and international financial institutions to include nuclear energy in their lending policies, and highlighted the importance of secure supply chains to accelerate deployment of nuclear energy technology.
The 33 States that have endorsed the Declaration to Triple Nuclear Energy include: Armenia, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, the Czech Republic, El Salvador, Finland, France, Ghana, Hungary, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, the Republic of Korea, Kosovo, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Poland, Romania, the Republic of Rwanda, Senegal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.
During COP30, IAEA showcased how nuclear science and technology are driving solutions to environmental challenges. At the IAEA Atoms4Climate Pavilion, visitors could see these innovations in action. In Brazil, for example, electron beam (e-beam) technology is transforming industrial wastewater treatment. In Latin America, countries are using nuclear techniques to control pests, safeguard crops and food exports.
Treating wastewater contaminated by industrial pollutants remains a major challenge for many countries. Through its support for electron beam (e-beam) technology, IAEA is helping countries develop innovative, chemical-free solutions that break down complex contaminants and improve water quality. Supported by IAEA and Brazil’s Innovation Agency (FINEP – Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos), a mobile unit equipped with an electron beam accelerator is being deployed in Brazil to treat industrial wastewater, improving water quality and environmental protection.
The IAEA’s Marine Environment Laboratories in Monaco support blue carbon initiatives that focus on mangroves, seagrasses, and saltmarshes — coastal ecosystems that capture and store organic carbon. Using nuclear and isotopic techniques, the IAEA helps countries assess carbon sequestration rates and ecosystem health, contributing to climate mitigation and biodiversity conservation. At COP30, IAEA’s work on blue carbon was highlighted at the UN-Oceans session “Ocean-climate-biodiversity nexus: leveraging synergies across frameworks,” focusing on building partnerships for nature-based solutions.
The sterile insect technique (SIT) is an environmentally friendly pest control method used to control harmful fruit fly populations in Brazil, Chile and Mexico. Sometimes described as birth control for insects, SIT works by releasing male insects that have been sterilised using radiation, which mate with wild female insects, resulting in no offspring. SIT reduces reliance on insecticides, protects crops and enables countries to gain access to international markets for food exports. It was showcased at COP30 as part of climate-smart agriculture efforts using nuclear science and techniques.
Glaciers are retreating and even disappearing in many mountainous regions, threatening water supplies for millions. IAEA supports countries such as Bolivia in using nuclear techniques, including Cosmic Ray Neutron Sensors and isotope hydrology, to monitor soil moisture and water availability in high-altitude ecosystems. These tools help scientists and decision makers assess the impact of glacier retreat on water resources and guide sustainable land management. At COP30, the IAEA highlighted this work in the session “Nuclear Science for Climate Resilience”, aligned with the UN 2025 Year of Glaciers’ Preservation, and showcasing how nuclear applications empower local communities to adapt to changing conditions.
As the world seeks new solutions for clean energy, fusion energy research is gaining momentum. At COP30, IAEA presented the current state of fusion research and development, including progress on the international ITER project, the world’s largest fusion experiment based in France. The session provided an overview of the current state of fusion energy including developments across various international, national and private projects, and insights from the IAEA World Fusion Outlook 2025.
Building on the outcomes of the first Global Stocktake at COP28, the IAEA supports countries in identifying pathways to accelerate the deployment of nuclear power together with renewables as well as emissions abatement and removal technologies, particularly in hard to abate sectors and low-carbon hydrogen production. Accelerating deployment of small modular reactors (SMRs) was also discussed at COP. SMRs offer flexible, cost-effective options for powering small energy grids, making them suitable for energy-intensive industries, data centres and commercial ships. An IAEA event explored approaches to SMR financing, policy and regulation.
Ahead of COP30, the Nuclear Industry Association (NIA) joined 16 national and international industry associations from 15 countries across three continents in signing a joint declaration at the World Nuclear Exhibition in Paris. This brought together an unprecedented coalition of nuclear industry organisations, up from 11 signatories in 2021.
The declaration was coordinated by French Nuclear Energy Industry Group (GIFEN – Groupement des Industriels Français du Nucléaire) and the World Nuclear Association (WNA). It called on governments worldwide to uphold the commitment made at COP28 to triple global nuclear generating capacity by 2050, supported by clear, stable policy frameworks and access to suitable financing mechanisms.
The signatories called for:
- Tripling global nuclear capacity by 2050
- Safely extending the life of existing reactors where appropriate
- Launching new nuclear projects, including large-scale reactors and SMRs/AMRs
- Strengthening the entire nuclear fuel cycle to enhance resilience and security of supply
- Expanding access to green finance and market frameworks that support long-term investment and innovation
The declaration is signed by: GIFEN (France), World Nuclear Association, nucleareurope, Nuclear Industry Association (UK), FinNuclear (Finland), ABDAN (Brazil), BNF (Belgium), AIN (Italy), Nuclear Nederland (Netherlands), CNA (Canada), SNF (Switzerland), JAIF (Japan), KAIF (South Korea), IGEOS (Poland), CNEA (China), ROMATOM (Romania), and FORONuclear (Spain).
