U.S. Mission to International Organizations in Vienna
Vienna, Austria
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The United States, through the IAEA’s Peaceful Uses Initiative (PUI), has allocated funds totaling EUR 832,850 for the IAEA’s Nuclear Sciences and Applications (NA) Environment Laboratories in Monaco to aid the monitoring and evaluation of environmental effects in oceans and coastal zones using nuclear technologies.
The contribution includes EUR 560,000 to the Ocean Acidification International Coordination Center (OA-ICC) located at the Environment Laboratories in Monaco. The OA-ICC works to promote, facilitate, and communicate global activities on ocean acidification. It serves as a hub to bring together scientists, policy makers, media, the general public, and other ocean acidification stakeholders. Since 2012, the United States has contributed over EUR 4.2 million to the OA-ICC for the monitoring and evaluation of increasing acidification levels in our oceans.
The second allocation includes EUR 270,000 to support the second year of activities for the Coastal Dead Zones project. This project helps identify and track the movement of nutrient sources from land to the marine environment, leading to coastal dead zones. These dead zones, where aquatic life cannot survive, have significant impact on the health of our coastal ecosystems.
In 2010, the United States helped the IAEA establish the PUI to raise extra-budgetary contributions for IAEA activities that promote the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. The PUI provides the IAEA with the flexibility to address unforeseen challenges on short notice, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. It also promotes nuclear energy development and supports developing states in addressing pressing needs using nuclear applications.
The United States remains the single largest contributor to the IAEA, with a special focus on the peaceful uses of nuclear applications.
The United States is proud to contribute to and partner with the IAEA in our joint pursuit to realize the many benefits of nuclear science and technology.
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