International Atomic Energy Agency
Abdulhamid Haidar, Aish Narayan
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Announcements
Topics
Nuclear Safety and the future of Nuclear Power:
Background Guide
In the aftermath of the Fukushima accident, some member states are withdrawing nuclear programs because of concerns about the safety of nuclear plants. In many cases, decline in public support is a driving force behind this. What can/must the IAEA do to keep nuclear power a safe, viable option?
It is clear that the response to the Fukushima accident was chaotic, sluggish, and not optimal. How can the IAEA improve the emergency response preparedness of member nations? What frameworks can be set up in advance to improve communication and decision making clarity? Can evacuation recommendations be solidified and proceduralized to avoid conflicting or inconsistent recommendations between member states? Recognizing that the psychological impact of such accidents may exceed the health or physical impacts, what mechanisms can the IAEA implement to reduce the propagation of misinformation? Can better systems to share information among scientists and experts during the accident be put in place?
Nuclear Security: Preventing and Dealing with Danger
Background Guide
Nuclear technology, if abused, can become a threat to safeties of host countries, neighboring ones, and the world. The two most critical examples are the threat of terrorists' acquisition of nuclear weapons - which could then be used anywhere - , or the development of nuclear weapons research based on technologies developed for peaceful uses of nuclear energy. These dangers are very real today, but the path towards dealing with them is unclear. Is the IAEA doing enough to prevent failures like theft of nuclear material, for example, in countries that are not as developed? In other cases where the IAEA is aware of present dangers, such as the issue of Iran, and where previous attempts of resolutions have passed - what happens next?