World leaders from more than 30 countries and the European Union (EU) met at the world’s first high-level Nuclear Energy Summit in Brussels last 21 March. High-level representatives from dozens of countries emphasised the importance of using nuclear power to achieve energy security, climate goals and drive sustainable development. Increased financing, workforce development and more proactive support to nuclear newcomer countries were identified as key to long-term success.
During his opening remarks, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi, who co-chaired the Summit together with Prime Minister of Belgium Alexander de Croo, underlined the need for action. “Acknowledging nuclear’s necessity isn’t enough. It’s on political leaders to foster environments that encourage nuclear development. Without decisive action, the potential for nuclear to support the green transition could be lost.”
GMF President and mayor of Borsele, Mr. Gerben Dijksterhuis, participated at the first panel of the Nuclear Energy Summit which focused on “relevant factors influencing the deployment of new or prolongation of existing nuclear capacity”, together with European Commissioner for Energy Ms. Kadri Simson and Microsoft Corporate Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer, Ms. Melanie Nakagawa. Mr. Dijksterhuis who also represented the Global Partnership of Nuclear Communities, highlighted the need for governments and industry to engage municipalities early on to understand the community concerns and expectations and co-design the nuclear project.
Other members of GMF participated in the Summit: GMF vice-president Mr. Fabian Sjöberg, Mr. Kris van Dijck mayor of Dessel, Mr. Yves D’Eer, emergency coordinator in Beveren and Meritxell Martell, as well as representatives from the Global Partnership of Nuclear Communities from the US (Mayor Rebecca Casper, Idaho Falls and Seth Kirshenberg, Executive Director of ECA) and Canada (Mayor Adrian Foster, Clarington and Justin MacLean).
During the private meeting with DG of the IAEA Rafael Mariano Grossi and the Global Partnership, the DG set us some very ambitious common goals for the future. In a follow up meeting later this year in Vienna we will discuss milestones achieved and new goals to be set. It will be up to our individual organizations and the global partnership to live up to these expectations. Exciting times ahead.
After years of striving to be heard and taken into consideration as local hosting municipalities, it is refreshing to seize the opportunities that emerge with the renewed interest in nuclear.