22 nations join Net-Zero Nuclear Initiative at COP28, committing to triple nuclear energy capacity by 2050
DUBAI – Twenty-two nations signed onto the newly launched Net-Zero Nuclear Initiative at COP28 today, collectively pledging to triple their nuclear energy capacity by 2050.
“The Net Zero Nuclear Initiative is a welcome development, and part of a growing recognition that we must expand our solution set to address climate change — including by advancing nuclear energy, a carbon-free, firm energy source with a low land footprint,” said Armond Cohen, executive director at Clean Air Task Force. “Tripling nuclear energy could advance global decarbonization by up to a decade, providing bulk zero-carbon electricity, heat, and zero-carbon fuels to the world, and complementing a rapid renewables build out with 24/7/365 carbon-free, non-fossil energy.”
Endorsing countries include the United States, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Ghana, Hungary, Japan, Republic of Korea, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom.
Cohen continued: “This is a significant sign of progress, particularly at a forum that has been slow to recognize nuclear energy’s carbon-free characteristics. Still, for nuclear energy to play a meaningful role in transforming our global energy system, we also need to make radical changes to how we manufacture, deliver, license, regulate, finance, and scale nuclear energy. Clean Air Task Force and our partners will release two new reports detailing these needed changes in the coming days — providing a playbook for countries looking to develop and deploy their nuclear energy fleets and a report mapping out new pathways to greatly improve the commercial, regulatory and policy environment for a rapid scale up of new nuclear energy around the world. We look forward to working with all nations and stakeholders, regardless of where they are in their journey on nuclear energy, to realize the transformative potential of a robust, greatly expanded nuclear energy ecosystem.”
Support for nuclear energy as a climate solution is emerging as a prominent theme at COP28, with a host of high level panel discussions, commitments, and announcements — including CATF-hosted events in the Zero-Carbon Future pavilion.
Press Contacts
Troy Shaheen, Communications Director, [email protected], +1 845-750-1189
Rowan Emslie, Communications Director, Europe, [email protected], +32 476 97 36 42
About Clean Air Task Force
Clean Air Task Force (CATF) is a global nonprofit organization working to safeguard against the worst impacts of climate change by catalyzing the rapid development and deployment of low-carbon energy and other climate-protecting technologies. With 25 years of internationally recognized expertise on climate policy and a fierce commitment to exploring all potential solutions, CATF is a pragmatic, non-ideological advocacy group with the bold ideas needed to address climate change. CATF has offices in Boston, Washington D.C., and Brussels, with staff working virtually around the world.
