The Director General of the IAEA told delegates at the opening of the 68th General Conference today that "nothing is impossible", despite the current challenges the world faces.
"The role and the mission of the IAEA is indispensable. And yes, we are at a time of unprecedented tensions and uncertainties, but that should not make us forget the absolute importance of our work here," he explained.
Rafael Mariano Grossi was addressing participants during the opening session of the global conference for nuclear cooperation, at the IAEA headquarters in Vienna.
Watch the opening of the IAEA General Conference.
Read the full written statement, as prepared for delivery
The Director General spoke of the wide remit of the Agency. "It is in preventing the erosion of the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons regime that has underpinned peace and security conditions in the world. It is also important to make sure that nuclear safety and security prevail during times of war. It is also trying to ensure that through the efficient application of science and technology through nuclear, we can diminish poverty and difficulties around the world."
Mr Grossi explained the progress of Agency's flagship initiatives, designed to address the world's biggest problems, from hunger to plastic pollution.
Global hunger
"More than seven hundred million people go to bed every night hungry. This is, of course, an obscenity, and this is, of course, an effort that the entire UN family and countries as well are trying to address.
"Through the Atoms for Food initiative, which we launched together with our friends from FAO, we are trying to bring nuclear technologies, from food irradiation, through pest insect containment technologies, through soil and crop improvement technologies, some remedy to this global crisis."
Mr Grossi invited participants, who are expected to number almost 3,000 in total, to join the Agency's main side event, the Scientific Forum, which starts tomorrow and is focused on Atoms for Food.
Access to cancer care
The Director General continued with a heartfelt reminder that during the five days of this conference, 200,000 people will be told they have cancer.
"This is the driving force behind our Rays of Hope initiative, which we launched in close coordination with the WHO and which is supporting countries all over the world, in particular low and middle income. Countries where in some cases, not a single radiotherapy machine exists."
The IAEA is giving support through Rays of Hope through resource mobilization, equipment, training, even building cancer centres.
"We need to continue counting on your support for this noble mission," he told the Agency's member countries.
Plastic pollution
In his written statement to the General Conference, the Director General also laid out the success of the NUTEC Plastics project so far.
"Under NUTEC Plastics, we are witnessing significant global engagement, with 86 Member States participating in microplastic monitoring, and 39 in plastic recycling, four of which are progressing towards establishing pilot-scale plants. The Global Marine Monitoring Network continues to grow with 99 Member States now benefiting from capacity building efforts or participating as partners for research and development activities."
Zoonotic diseases
Rafael Mariano Grossi reminded delegates of the anxieties of recent pandemic and the importance of "being ahead of the game" when it comes to zoonotic diseases. He explained that ZODIAC, the IAEA's zoonotic disease integrated action program, is now working in more than one hundred countries.
"We have equipped veterinary laboratories all over the world. And these laboratories right now are working on mpox."
Climate change and clean energy
While all the above issues are crucial, the Director General pointed out that one of the most important problems we have to face is the climate crisis.
He pointed out that roughly a quarter of clean energy being produced right now in the world comes from nuclear power.
"In Dubai in COP28, there was a global consensus from all members present there to say that nuclear energy should be accelerated."
This year's annual United Nations Climate Change Conference is being held in Baku in November. "We will be working with Azerbaijan for COP29, where we expect to be continuing in this very important effort," he added.
In addition, the IAEA is about to hold the first ever first international conference on small modular reactors (SMRs), where countries can learn exactly who is doing what to progress this technology, and how countries can benefit from it.
He also referred to an upcoming World Fusion Energy Group meeting in Rome which is going to "bring the conversation forward" in fusion energy; "one of the most promising scientific areas".
Safety, Security and Safeguards
The Director General went on to describe developments in the other core areas of the Agency's work, namely nuclear safety, security and safeguards.
He discussed the Agency's ongoing presence at Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine, where experts have now completed 23 rotations, and mentioned his recent visit to Kursk, "where the situation is serious".
"A nuclear power plant should never be attacked under any circumstances, irrespective of the place where these nuclear power plants are situated," he reiterated.
Mr Grossi also said he is looking forward to engaging with the new president and government of Iran, and to the IAEA continuing "in our indispensable efforts to give the credible assurances to the international community that that nuclear programme is peaceful." And that the IAEA is "moving forward in trying to bring clarity" to ongoing issues of concern with Syria.
"So there are challenges ahead, but they are not insurmountable.
"And I reiterate, here and now, my disposition to continue our efforts. In all of these points, the IAEA is showing its active contribution to the world agenda."
Gender equality in nuclear
The Director General finished his speech by announcing the most recent progress in his campaign to promote gender equality, both at the Agency and in the wider nuclear field, through the Marie Sklodowska Curie fellowship programme and the Lise Meitner professional development programme.
"And the example, of course, is my own secretariat, where from a meagre 28 per cent of women in the professional categories, when I started in this position, now we are at 48.5, and we are going to get to 50 per cent very soon.
"Nothing is impossible when we work together and with a sense of real commitment."
Rafael Mariano Grossi concluded his speech by saying: "So as you can see, dear colleagues, from the frontlines of war, to the radiotherapy units, to food and the protection of the environment, in all of these areas this agency is and will continue to be at your service, for the noble mission of keeping atoms for peace and development."
