IAEA discusses nuclear technology role in the near future

IAEA representatives discuss similarities between IAEA work and the UN Sustainable Development Goals during the 59th General Conference.
IAEA representatives discuss similarities between IAEA work and the UN Sustainable Development Goals during the 59th General Conference. | Courtesy of the IAEA

Attendees of the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) 59th General Conference discussed the role nuclear technology would play in the future, specifically relating to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), the IAEA said Wednesday.

During a side event at the conference in Vienna, IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano noted the overlap between the proposed SDG and the work that the IAEA would be involved in.

“The IAEA looks forward to playing an active part in helping with the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals,” Amano said. “The new goals will be incorporated into national development plans and these will then be reflected in the IAEA’s Country Program Frameworks.”

Amano said that the SDG includes goals relating to human health, poverty, clean water, hunger, clean and affordable energy, climate change and industry and innovation. 

Amano said these are areas that nuclear technology would be able to benefit directly or indirectly. The SDG will follow the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) set in 2000 which included eight objective areas. The SDG expands on these with 15 areas, including several from the MDG that are considered to still present challenges on an international scale. 

During the conference there were also discussions relating to assistance to least developed countries and how science and technology developments could potentially improve progress.