Global Climate News

Canada has committed new funding of $7.3 million over 5 years to launch the Canadian Trade Gateway for Nuclear Development. This initiative aims to support professionals in the nuclear industry with training and market development, contributing to the region's green economy goals. Minister Ng emphasized the importance of Canada's leadership in nuclear energy for aiding Indo-Pacific economies in achieving their sustainability targets during her visit in February 2025.

US-based Idaho National Laboratory has developed the Sample Preparation Laboratory (SPL), the first new hot cells built in 50 years, to test structural materials for advanced nuclear reactors. SPL aims to cut down irradiated material samples for research and testing in various extreme conditions. The facility is scheduled to go 'hot' in January 2026, with installations and tests of scientific equipment occurring through 2025. This initiative is expected to play a critical role in exploring material properties for sustainable nuclear energy solutions.

The Government of Canada has successfully priced a 7-year green bond issuance worth $2 billion. This bond is part of its ongoing commitment to sustainable finance and is the fourth offering of such bonds. With strong demand from environmentally responsible investors, the bond supports Canada’s transition to a sustainable economy and facilitates private financing for green projects, contributing to net-zero emissions targets by 2050.

US-based President Trump has established the National Energy Dominance Council to advise on strategies for 'energy dominance' through a new executive order. Chaired by Interior Secretary Doug Bergum and vice-chaired by Energy Secretary Chris Wright, the council is tasked to bring forth a plan regarding reliable energy production and enhancing domestic energy resources within 100 days. Key objectives include cutting red tape, promoting innovation, and securing energy industries.

Ghana has successfully completed the site selection process for its first nuclear power plant (NPP) with the support of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The mission reviewed the site selection report and evaluated the adherence to IAEA safety standards. Recommendations were provided to improve and optimize the site selection process, addressing potential risks like earthquakes and flooding. Nuclear Power Ghana (NPG) will receive ongoing technical assistance from the IAEA to advance the site approval process.

The IAEA Director General has been in Japan to support local efforts in enhancing nuclear safety and environmental remediation, especially in the context of restarting nuclear power plants post-Fukushima. He met with local authorities and business leaders to further collaborate on safety measures and monitoring radioactivity near the Fukushima Daiichi site. Improvements in safety response and effective remediation strategies were emphasized during the trip.

Japan's Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) began releasing ALPS-treated water into the sea in August 2023. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced that it would conduct additional testing to ensure the safety of this discharge. Future discharges will release approximately 7,800 cubic meters each, totaling about 54,600 m3 per year. As of mid-February 2025, TEPCO has stored nearly 1.3 million m3 of ALPS-treated water in tanks on-site.

Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry announced that, under the framework of the IAEA, the first sampling of ALPS treated water was conducted at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant on February 21, 2025. This action followed the agreement made in September between Japan and the IAEA to carry out additional monitoring. IAEA officials along with representatives from South Korea, Switzerland, China, and France collected samples from a measurement tank to ensure the safety of the treated water before its release into the ocean. The Ministry aims to provide high transparency and promote understanding of the safety of ALPS treated water among domestic and international communities.

France-based Framatome has released its financial results for the year ending December 31, 2024, reporting a revenue of 4,676 million euros, an 11.8% increase from 2023. The company marked significant contract signings for the EPR2 projects in France and Sizewell C in the UK. The firm also reported a significant increase in cash flow from operations, reaching 706 million euros. The growth is attributed to the acceleration of deliveries and ongoing projects across Europe and North America, including supplying fuels to VVER-type reactors in Bulgaria and Slovakia.

Framatome, an international leader in nuclear energy based in France, reported a revenue of 4,676 million euros for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024, representing an organic increase of 11.8% compared to 2023. The company signed major contracts, including for the first six EPR2 units in France and Sizewell C in the UK. Significant fuel supply contracts were also secured for VVER 440 reactors in Bulgaria and Slovakia, as well as for PWR reactors in North America. Investments were made to ramp up production for the EPR2 program and modernize the fuel supply chain.

India has embarked on an ambitious plan to enhance its nuclear power capacity, aiming to increase it from the current 8,180 MW to 22.48 GW by 2031-32 and 100 GW by 2047. This initiative was bolstered by a recent meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump, reaffirming their commitment to the US-India 123 Civil Nuclear Agreement. The Indian government is also reforming its regulatory framework to allow greater private sector participation in the nuclear energy sector and address international collaboration.

Belgium's Doel nuclear power plant Unit 1 has been permanently shut down after 50 years of operation. The new government under Prime Minister Bart de Wever aims to reverse the nuclear phaseout law and extend the lives of existing reactors. They are looking to double the country's nuclear generation capacity by building new small modular reactors, committing to expand existing capacity in the short and long term.

US-based Department of Energy’s Idaho Cleanup Project successfully tested robotic equipment at the Idaho National Laboratory Site to retrieve radioactive calcine waste. This innovative technology was designed to be operated remotely to weld access points in the site’s Calcined Solids Storage Facilities. The initial tests showcased the robot's ability to weld and cut steel plates, marking significant progress in the ongoing Calcine Disposition Project aimed at safely removing and disposing of hazardous waste stored at the site.

Japan and the IAEA conducted additional measures under the IAEA framework, sampling ALPS treated water at Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings’ Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station for the first time from February 19th to 21st, 2025. This initiative involved IAEA officials and experts from laboratories in China, France, Republic of Korea, and Switzerland. The sampling process occurred prior to the dilution of the treated water, aiming to ensure transparency and safety regarding the discharge within both domestic and international communities.

US-based Bechtel B&W Idaho has been selected as the management and operations contractor for the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL). This partnership, which includes resources from Bechtel National, BWX Technologies, and the Inland Northwest Research Alliance, aims to leverage extensive experience and capabilities in energy and environmental technologies. The INEEL is a significant research and engineering complex that focuses on nuclear technology and environmental management, with a storied history in Idaho's energy sector.

UK-based Core Power has announced the development of a maritime civil nuclear program anchored in the US, aimed at bringing floating nuclear power to market by the mid-2030s. The initiative, named Liberty, will focus on the modular construction of advanced reactor technology and the establishment of regulatory frameworks for the mass production of floating nuclear power plants (FNPPs). Core Power anticipates opening the order book for FNPPs in 2028, targeting full commercialization by the mid-2030s, and estimates the floating power market could be worth $2.6 trillion.

Japan-based IAEA has signed a practical arrangement with Sumitomo Corporation to promote sustainable uses of nuclear energy. This cooperation aims to address global development challenges, focusing on the application of nuclear technologies in healthcare, shipping, and capacity building. IAEA Director General Mr. Grossi also addressed a group of 30 high-level business representatives, discussing the significance of nuclear power and SMRs in boosting private sector understanding and networking.

The international team of researchers at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) developed a novel measurement technique for analyzing actinides, enhancing insight into their electronic structures. This groundbreaking method, M4 resonant inelastic X-ray scattering, enables the comprehension of bonding properties in radioactive elements, which could lead to better nuclear waste disposal solutions. Scientists emphasize that the results have substantial implications for the safe management of actinide compounds in environmental contexts.

Japan's Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Muto, met with IAEA Director General Grossi to discuss cooperation on nuclear energy and decommissioning efforts including the release of ALPS treated water into the ocean. Minister Muto expressed gratitude for IAEA's continuous monitoring framework and the commitment to transparency regarding treated water. They emphasized the integration of nuclear energy as part of Japan's energy policy to ensure decarbonization alongside renewable sources, highlighting the importance of IAEA's ongoing support in Japan's nuclear strategy.

Ukraine's Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant has been relying on only one off-site power line after losing its back-up line, raising nuclear safety concerns during ongoing military conflict. The plant’s only remaining 750 kV power line now provides the critical power supply necessary for cooling its reactors, even though they have been shut down for more than two years. Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi of the IAEA stressed the need for reliable off-site power, highlighting past incidents where the plant lost all off-site power. The ongoing military activities in the region have also posed risks to operational safety at nuclear sites across Ukraine.