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IAEA Highlights Support for Sustainable Development and Climate Action at UN High-Level Political Forum

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IAEA Deputy Director General Hua Liu participates in the opening session of the UN High-Level Political Forum in New York. (Photo: M. Evans/IAEA)

The United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development heard how IAEA support helps countries reach the Global Goals in energy, food, health, water and more. At the latest forum in July 2024, the IAEA presented its ongoing initiatives at targeted UN plenary sessions on topics that included food security, energy planning and Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) progress in Africa and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The IAEA also led a side event on climate action and hosted a complementary exhibition. 

“Nuclear science, technology and innovation is a critical component of sustainable development, carrying the potential to accelerate the pace and weight of progress in several sectors, from energy and decarbonization, to food security and agriculture, to healthcare and disease control, to water management and protection, industry and innovation, disaster response and resilience,” said Hua Liu, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Technical Cooperation, addressing the UN plenary.  

Each year the UN High-Level Political Forum provides a platform for the review of progress towards a selection of the 17 SDGs, with this year’s forum focused on five–  SDG-1 (‘No Poverty’), SDG-2 (‘End Hunger’), SDG-13 (‘Climate Action’), SDG-16 (‘Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions’) and SDG-17 (‘Partnerships for the Goal’). There was a particular focus across all the SDG discussions on the solutions afforded by science, technology and innovation. 

The Antigua and Barbuda Agenda, adopted at the recent 4th International Conference on SIDS, also places an emphasis on the importance of science, technology and innovation in addressing the unique development challenges faced by SIDS. In his plenary intervention on SIDS, Deputy Director General Liu described the recent IAEA commitment of 13.7 million euros in support to 26 SIDS that was made earlier this year. “We want to unlock the full potential of our innovative solutions and concretely help build a more resilient, sustainable and prosperous future for the SIDS,” said Hua Liu, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Technical Cooperation.   

IAEA Side Event at HLPF

The IAEA side event likewise featured interventions on science, technology and innovation from high-level representatives of the International Telecommunication Union, the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation, and the Permanent Missions to the United Nations of the People’s Republic of China, the Republic of Namibia, the Philippines, South Africa and the United States of America. The speakers expounded on a range of innovative evidence-based solutions to tackling climate change, including those offered by nuclear science and technology.  

“With the little water that we have and with the soil that we have, we have had absolutely no choice but to look to science and technology for solutions, and we have found an outstanding partnership with the IAEA in dealing with these critical realities,” said Ambassador Neville Gertze, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Namibia to the United Nations at the side event.  

Side event participants heard about Namibian cowpea crops bred to be more resistant to harsh climate conditions. (Photo: J. Adu-Gyamfi/IAEA)

Working with the IAEA and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN, scientists in northern Namibia have been able to reduce water use by 80% in pilot fields by combining nuclear techniques for plant breeding and soil moisture monitoring with conventional irrigation methods.   

The side event provided a forum for country representatives to advocate for increased international collaboration to make progress towards overcoming daunting sustainable development challenges. 

“We need cooperation – North-South cooperation, South-South cooperation and triangular cooperation – cooperation across all sectors and stakeholders, and more importantly we need UN organizations to play a central role in this process,” said Ambassador Shuang Geng, Deputy Permanent Representative of the People's Republic of China to the United Nations, at the side event. 

As a United Nations organization, the IAEA brings together countries at the regional and international levels to strengthen ties and amplify progress toward the SDGs. 

Ambassador Michele Sison, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs, voices United States support for the peaceful uses of nuclear science at the UN High-Level Political Forum side event. (Photo: M.Evans/IAEA)

For more information about the Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Science, Technology and Applications and the Technical Cooperation Programme, click here.

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