In brief
Nuclear energy, once avoided at climate discussions, is regaining support, with multiple nations signing pledges to expand its use to combat climate change.
The COP29 climate summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, marks a significant turning point for nuclear energy in the climate change debate. For decades, nuclear power has been viewed with skepticism, often sidelined in discussions about sustainable energy options. However, the narrative is shifting.Sama Bilbao y Leon, an influential figure in the nuclear field and leader of the World Nuclear Association, recalls the past hostility towards nuclear discussions. "In my early years at climate talks, many were opposed to any mention of nuclear energy," she noted.Fast forward to today, and the scene is remarkably different. At the previous climate conference in the UAE, 22 nations united to pledge to triple the global reliance on nuclear energy by 2050. This year, Azerbaijan witnessed the addition of six more countries to that commitment.Countries traditionally associated with nuclear energy, like Canada, France, South Korea, and the U.S., are on board—but so are newcomers like Kenya, Mongolia, and Nigeria, eager to harness this emission-free power source. As Dr. Bilbao y Leon highlights, the dialogue surrounding nuclear power is evolving, with more countries prepared to recognize its potential as a viable solution in the fight against climate change.
