U.S. Statement – As Prepared for Ambassador Laura S.H. Holgate – Agenda Item 5 – Strengthening the Agency’s Activities Related to
Nuclear Science, Technology, and Applications
Vienna, Austria, September 12, 2023
Chair,
My delegation was saddened to learn of yesterday’s devastating flooding in Libya and expresses its sympathies and condolences to those affected. This tragedy reminds us of the human cost of climate change and the need to take action.
The United States welcomes this report on the Agency’s progress in promoting the peaceful applications of nuclear science, technology, and energy to assist Member States. We underscore our demonstrated commitment to strengthening the Agency’s contributions to national and global development priorities, including through funding for the Director General’s visionary flagship initiatives – Rays of Hope, NUTEC Plastics, and ZODIAC.
We support IAEA efforts to refine and scale the use of the Sterile Insect Technique against pests that transmit disease, harm crops, and threaten herds. We recently provided funding to pilot the use of this technology for controlling mosquito populations in Brazil. We were also pleased to provide seed funding for the new Global Water Analysis Laboratory Network, launched at the United Nations Water Conference this year.
Chair,
We recall that many of the projects detailed in the Secretariat’s report are made possible by the Agency’s Nuclear Applications Laboratories in Austria and Monaco. The United States has been a significant donor to the ongoing project to renovate the Seibersdorf labs. We were pleased to see the Secretariat’s report highlight the breadth of Member State support for this modernization initiative and note the near completion of resource mobilization efforts, thanks to the help of Friends of ReNuAL Co-Chairs Germany and South Africa. We take this opportunity to thank ReNuAL Project Executive and Lab Coordinator Mr. Andy Garner for his extraordinary leadership throughout this complex endeavor and to wish him all the best in his coming retirement.
We also wish to thank the IAEA and many delegations in this room for their support of the Sustained Dialogue on Peaceful Uses, particularly Ghana and Jordan for hosting successful dialogues on radiation medicine access and water resource management. We look forward to continued work with other interested countries and the IAEA to strengthen global awareness of the link between expanding access to nuclear science and technology and advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Chair,
We note the important work of the Agency in helping Member States to build or expand national civil nuclear power programs. We welcome the Agency’s efforts to promote the highest standards of safety and security, and the implementation of IAEA safeguards, in current and future nuclear power programs. We are pleased to provide financial and in-kind support for a wide range of IAEA training and assistance programs in these areas, including through the Peaceful Uses Initiative.
The United States is convinced that nuclear power, including non-electrical applications of nuclear power, will play an important role in global efforts to mitigate climate change and assist with climate change adaptation. We welcome the Second International Conference on Climate Change and the Role of Nuclear Power next month, and we support the Agency’s plans to participate in the upcoming COP28.
We recognize Member States’ efforts to collaborate under the auspices of the IAEA on regulatory and industrial approaches to the safe and secure deployment of small modular reactors through the Nuclear Harmonization and Standardization Initiative. We encourage continued cross-departmental cooperation at the IAEA through the Platform on Small Modular Reactors and their Applications, as well as the Agency’s continued coordination with other international organizations.
Finally, I want to reiterate our deep appreciation for the Agency’s role in launching the Lise Meitner Program, which complements the Maria Sklodowska Curie Fellowship Program. I underscore U.S. support for the promotion of diversity and inclusivity in Member States’ nuclear workforces.
Thank you, Chair.
U.S. Statement – Agenda Item 5 – IAEA Board of Governors Meeting – September 2023