Ensuring Safety and Enabling Sustainability - introduction to the discussion on the international conference on the safety of radioactive waste management, decommissioning, environmental protection, and remediation

Thursday, 2 March 2023
11:00-13:00 Vienna, Austria time

View recording* →
* Due to technical difficulties at the beginning of the recording, we kindly recommend viewers to start the recording from second 35.

The International Atomic Energy Agency is organizing an international conference on the safety of radioactive waste management, decommissioning, environmental protection, and remediation, scheduled for November 6–10, 2023: ensuring safety and enabling sustainability. The conference is coming at an opportune time to initiate and assist the necessary dialogue between the safety and sustainability communities on the interrelationships between safety and sustainability. A focus will also be on how to consider addressing the relevant interrelationships in an integrated way and identify practical approaches for managing them in decision-making, from policy formulation to implementation.

The IAEA supports Member States in their efforts to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). The UN SDGs are at the heart of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which was adopted by all 193 countries at the UN General Assembly in September 2015. The UN SDGs represent a blueprint for sustainable development and a call for urgent action on the major issues humanity is facing. Many countries use nuclear science and technology to contribute to and meet their developmental objectives in areas including energy, human health, food production, water management, and environmental protection. The use of these technologies contributes directly to the UN SDGs. Sustainable development in all its forms takes us towards the long-term goal of sustainability in all three dimensions: economic, social, and environmental sustainability.

The webinar will introduce the discussion in advance of the conference to enhance understanding and interest in the themes and topics of the conference and provide key information for potential conference presenters. 

• Promote and raise awareness on the importance of the conference.
• Initiate pre-conference discussions to raise awareness and ignite interest in the theme and topics of the conference.
• Provide pointers to potential presenters on the focus of the conference.

Anna Clark, IAEA (Presentation)
Simon Carroll, Vattenfall, Sweden (Presentation)
Valeria Cuccia, National Nuclear Energy Commission (CNEN), Brazil (Presentation)
Keith Baldry, Environment Protection Authority (EPA); Australia (Presentation)

Points for consideration and wrap-up →

Carl-Magnus Larson: Principal Scientific Advisor, Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA), Vice-President of the Convention on Nuclear Safety (Presentation)