Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Science, Technology and Applications and the Technical Cooperation Programme

Background

For more than six decades, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has provided support to Member States in planning for and using of nuclear science and technology for various peaceful purposes, responding to evolving needs and priorities through capacity building, facilitating the transfer of technology and knowledge in a sustainable manner, in support of Member States efforts in addressing their developmental priorities to attain their Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).   

Since the last Ministerial Conference in 2018, some global issues have emerged which require attention such as the COVID-19 pandemic, food security, and climate change. The COVID-19 pandemic, with its dramatic human and economic consequences, has demonstrated that human health is more than ever dependent on animal health and a healthy environment. The concept of One Health needs to be fully integrated. In addition to climate change, the crises and conflicts around the world, affecting international trade and the food supply chain, have exacerbated food insecurity in the poorest parts of the world. The current global economic situation and the complexity of the major challenges faced lead to the need for a multisectoral approach, integrating partnership and resource mobilization across research and development, academia, education, international organizations and private sector.  

Nuclear techniques are an integral part of the technological solution to address the main development challenges the world is facing today including, inter alia, climate change, health and food safety and security, water resource management and application of radiation technology to industry particularly in the areas of health and food security. In order to generate a bigger impact on some of the developmental areas, the IAEA has already launched cross cutting initiatives such as Zoonotic Disease Integrated Action (ZODIAC), NUclear TEChnology for Controlling Plastic Pollution (NUTEC Plastics), Rays of Hope and more recently, together with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Atoms4Food initiative.  

The Ministerial Conference will provide another opportunity to Member States and other partners to address topics of interest and explore the breadth of nuclear science, technology and its applications applied to socio-economic development, with special emphasis on inter alia, climate change, health, and food safety and security as well as water resource management and radiation technology supporting these areas, highlighting when and where possible, the recent major IAEA initiatives. It will further serve as an important platform to highlight the latest research and development as well as achievements of the Technical Cooperation Programme at country level, discuss innovative ways to bridge the gaps in the field of nuclear science and technology and applications among Member States, and address the needs for partnership, resource mobilization and education programmes to ensure sustainability and socio-economic impact in Member States.