Climate & Energy

Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, opened the organization's 70th General Conference in Vienna on September 14, 2026, with a focus on global nuclear safety and peaceful energy expansion. Grossi highlighted revised estimates projecting that global nuclear power capacity could more than triple by 2060 as nations seek to meet rising electricity demand and enhance energy security. He emphasized the agency's role in supporting developing countries through technology transfer and training to ensure equitable access to nuclear benefits. The conference addressed critical geopolitical challenges, including the verification of Syria's compliance with safeguards obligations and the establishment of a seventh local truce around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine. This truce facilitates repairs after the facility's external power supply was severed for the tenth time in June, a move aimed at preventing a potential nuclear disaster. Grossi described the situation in Iran as requiring renewed multilateral cooperation to verify the peaceful nature of its nuclear program, expressing stubborn optimism about achieving predictable outcomes despite ongoing tensions. UN Secretary-General António Guterres, represented by Monica Juma, underscored the IAEA's indispensable role during a period of global turbulence marked by increasing attacks on nuclear facilities and accelerating proliferation risks. Guterres called for full member state cooperation in verifying Iran's activities and supporting safety measures in Ukraine. He also urged sustained funding for the Technical Cooperation Fund to assist developing nations, while noting the emerging consideration of using nuclear energy to power artificial intelligence data centers and maritime shipping sectors