Worldwide energy crises, pollution and the increasing gap in economic inequality are just few of the reasons that put nuclear energy in the eye of the storm. It can be either feared as one of the most hardcore elements of the past or accepted as the one that bears enormous potential of transformation. A Global Forum symposium organised by OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) at the University of Michigan late last year was a strong reminder that the future of nuclear technology will not be based on its use in warfare but rather on how different societies utilise it for peace, progress and sustainability.

The main takeaway from the symposium was that the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes is not simply an option, but a necessity. There is no question about the necessity to switch to clean energy sources. With climate change becoming even more pronounced, countries are required to reduce their carbon emissions without halting their progress. Nuclear energy, a victim of misunderstanding, is still one of the most stable and environmentally friendly sources of energy. In contrast to fossil fuels, nuclear power plants release almost no greenhouse gases, they are cleaner and almost carbon-free.

Such double benefits of nuclear power make it the bedrock of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These are particular goals 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and 13 (Climate Action). In addition to electricity generation, nuclear devices are becoming the agents of change in the field of healthcare, agriculture and water management – sectors that are mostly overlooked in developing countries. Radiation techniques are increasing crop........

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