There have been recent developments on the second topic. Please read the following two articles:
http://www.reuters.com/
http://www.reuters.com/
Climate change concerns have created growing interest in low-carbon, alternative energy sources. Nuclear power has emerged as a carbon-free technology that is available for deployment to meet baseload energy demand. More than 50 countries have approached the IAEA and expressed interest in setting up nuclear power programs. 433 power reactors are in operation, 65 more are under construction, and several others are likely to be deployed over the next decade. However, the question of ultimate disposal of nuclear waste remains to be answered in most member states. Sweden has sited a repository and begun construction, and USA and France are moving towards siting long-term repositories for ultimate disposal of High Level Waste (HLW). Both China and India are expanding installed nuclear capacity but have not yet chosen a site or technology for an ultimate repository. In this committee the member states of the IAEA will discuss the possibility of constructing a single international repository or several such repositories for the ultimate storage of high-level waste produced in all the member states. The question of storing radioactive waste produced by nuclear reactors has been put off for several decades. In light of recent events in Japan, this question now needs to be resolved in order to improve the public acceptance of nuclear power and ensure its continued expansion.
As a nonpartisan international organization that advocates using "atoms for peace", the IAEA monitors the nuclear programs of its member states, and verifies through inspections their compliance with commitments and treaties--such as the Non-Proliferation Treaty. The IAEA then reports its findings to the United Nations.
Mindful of a rapidly changing energy and security landscape, this committee will seek to reevaluate the objectives and functions of the IAEA. There will be an emphasis on the cooperation of member states with the IAEA as well as with each other. The roles, rights, needs, and responsibilities of all parties will be discussed with a special emphasis on the improvement of cooperation, and the treatment and release of sensitive information. Toward this goal, this committee will consider the factors that define the IAEA's methods, roles, and responsibilities.
Furthermore, delegates will look at how "transparent" and cooperative member nations are in allowing inspections of nuclear facilities. Transparency in the dissemination of the information that the IAEA collects will also be discussed. There have been and continue to be issues regarding a lack of transparency, which leads to mistrust and tension. What can be done to solve this problem? How can transparency be encouraged and how should a lack of it be dealt with? As for the IAEA, how should it deal with the information it collects? It has a responsibility to the international community to keep it informed about volatile situations.
On the other hand, however, there is a certain degree of confidentiality between the IAEA and member states that must be upheld. The availability of information -- or lack thereof -- on the nuclear programs as well as the cooperativeness of Iran, North Korea, Israel, and Venezuela will be discussed in this context. Recent and upcoming events, particularly the debate regarding Iran (both its cooperativeness and information release standards), will play a key role in discussing the future of the IAEA and its policies.