At the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP) for the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, a declaration was made by over 20 nations from four continents to triple their nuclear energy output. It is called the Declaration to Triple Nuclear Energy.
About Declaration to Triple Nuclear Energy
Declaration’s Objective
- The Declaration highlights the vital role nuclear energy plays in achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
- A rise in nuclear energy usage is crucial for limiting the global temperature increase to 1.5°C from pre-industrial times.
Signatories of the Declaration
- Countries that have signed the Declaration include USA, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Ghana, Hungary, Japan, South Korea, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine, UAE, and UK.
India’s Stance
- India, however, is not a signatory to this Declaration.
- The country has decided not to join alliances outside the COP Process, a principled stance it has taken.
Countries party to the Declaration have committed to:
Strategy for Enhancing Nuclear Power by 2050
- Ensure responsible operation of nuclear power plants with highest standards of safety, sustainability, security, and non-proliferation.
- Manage nuclear waste responsibly.
Investment Mobilisation
- Drive investments in nuclear power.
- Implement innovative financing mechanisms.
- Advocate for inclusion of nuclear energy in the energy lending policies of multilateral financial institutions.
Development and Construction Support
- Support the creation of nuclear reactors, such as small modular and advanced reactors.
- Promote the use of these reactors for power generation and decarbonization applications, including hydrogen and synthetic fuel production.
Supply Chain Resilience
- Promote resilient supply chains, including fuel supplies, for safe and secure technologies used in nuclear power plants throughout their life cycles.
Extending Plant Lifetimes
- Extend the lifetimes of nuclear power plants, ensuring adherence to the highest standards of safety, sustainability, security, and non-proliferation.
Support for New Deployments
- Support nations intending to deploy new civil nuclear facilities, ensuring the highest safety, sustainability, security, and non-proliferation standards.
Encouraging Third-party Commitments
- Encourage commitments from the private sector, NGOs, development banks, and financial institutions to complement these efforts.
Role Of Nuclear Power In Mitigating Climate Change
Emission-free Energy
- Nuclear power plants produce energy without releasing greenhouse gases.
- An IAEA study reveals that in the past half-century, nuclear power has prevented the emission of about 70 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.
Climate Monitoring and Action
- Nuclear power plays a part in observing climate change and addressing its effects.
Reliable and Sustainable Power Source
- Nuclear power is the second largest source of clean, dispatchable baseload power.
- Unlike Solar and Wind Power, it can provide constant baseload power.
Worldwide Usage of Nuclear Power
- Presently, the global nuclear energy/power capacity is around 370 GW, supplying approximately 10% of the world’s total electricity.
Upcoming Nuclear Technologies
- Innovative nuclear technologies like small modular reactors have a small land footprint and can be placed as needed.
Partnership with Renewable Energy Sources
- Nuclear power can work in tandem with renewable energy sources and provide flexibility that aids in decarbonisation beyond the power sector.
IAEA’s Role and Initiatives
- The IAEA assists Member States in integrating nuclear power into their national energy planning sustainably.
- It has initiated the ‘Atoms4NetZero’ initiative.
Atoms4NetZero Initiative
- The Atoms4NetZero is an endeavour spearheaded by the IAEA, assisting its member states in harnessing the potential of nuclear energy as a key player in the shift toward net-zero emissions.
- The initiative serves as a resource for member states and various stakeholders—including industry representatives, financial institutions, and international organisations—providing them with scientific proof and technical know-how concerning the role of nuclear energy in significantly reducing carbon emissions from electricity generation and sectors notoriously challenging to decarbonize, such as industry and transportation.
India’s Expansion In Nuclear Power Generation
Present and Future Nuclear Energy Capacity of India
- Current nuclear energy capacity in India is 6780 MW.
- Eight new reactors are under construction.
- These new reactors will contribute an additional 6800 MW.
Projected Growth in Nuclear Capacity by 2032
- By 2032, India aims to expand its nuclear capacity to approximately 22 GW.
- This expansion signifies a tripling of the current capacity.
Nuclear Capacity Expansion for Net-Zero Goal
- For India to achieve its net-zero emission goal by 2070, a hundredfold expansion in nuclear capacity is required.
Benefits of India Joining the Nuclear Initiative
- India plans to triple its nuclear capacity by 2032.
- A tripling in nuclear capacity is a prerequisite for the net-zero target by 2070.
- Participation in this declaration could have benefited India by:
- Providing access to nuclear supply chains.
- Strengthening its bid for a permanent seat in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).