Moniz: ‘The Threat Of Climate Change Calls For Expanded Use Of Nuclear Power’

Secretary Ernest Moniz

2015 IAEA General Conference

September 14, 2015

Remarks As Delivered 

Thank you, Ambassador Formica. I also want to thank Director General Amano for his outstanding leadership.  I want to first share a message from President Obama, and I quote:

Statement of the President of the United States of America Barack Obama:

I send greetings as you gather in Vienna for the 59th International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) General Conference.  This conference demonstrates the international community’s support for the invaluable role of the IAEA, and I thank you for your efforts.

The United States remains committed to pursuing a world without nuclear weapons.  That is why we have worked with our international partners for decades to establish and strengthen the nuclear nonproliferation regime—encouraging peaceful uses of nuclear technology, while preventing the spread of nuclear weapons.  The IAEA has been at the heart of these efforts, constantly adapting to new challenges, developing and promoting international standards for nuclear safety and security, and crafting state-of-the-art approaches to nuclear safeguards.  The Agency’s integrity and capacity to undertake its technical responsibilities deserve our constant support and protection so that the IAEA can continue to contribute to global security.

This year, with the conclusion of negotiations on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) with our P5+1 partners, the European Union, and Iran, we demonstrated once again that it is possible to settle difficult nonproliferation issues diplomatically.  Under the interim deal that allowed comprehensive negotiations to take place over the past 2 years, the IAEA played a key part in building the necessary confidence to complete the long-term deal by verifying Iran’s implementation of its nuclear commitments.  The IAEA’s role is central to the verification regime established in the JCPOA.

Next year, I look forward to hosting the fourth Nuclear Security Summit in Washington, where one of our primary objectives will be the strengthening of the global nuclear security architecture.  The IAEA, which already contributes extensively to global nuclear security efforts, will play an even more prominent role after the summit as we further coordinate nuclear security activities among nations, institutions, and initiatives.

As you join together in Vienna and work to shape a better future across the globe, I call upon all Member States to strengthen the Agency’s ability to ensure nuclear programs are peaceful and secure.  I wish you all the best for a productive General Conference.

And that concludes President Obama’s statement.


NONPROLIFERATION AND THE IRAN DEAL

Two months ago today in Vienna, the E3/EU+3 and Iran reached agreement on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) to ensure the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program.

I commend all negotiating parties on their work on the JCPOA.

The JCPOA memorializes Iran’s affirmation that “under no circumstances will Iran ever seek, develop or acquire nuclear weapons.”  Nor will Iran engage in the development of key nuclear weaponization-related capabilities.

Other innovative and unique aspects of the deal include a fixed time frame for providing access to undeclared sites and full uranium supply chain surveillance.  Further, the E3/EU+3 and Iran will support a modernization project at Arak that will produce a multi-purpose research reactor fueled with low enriched uranium.  And plutonium production will be minimized and spent fuel will be shipped out of Iran for the reactor’s life.

Iran will cooperate with the IAEA on the Agency’s investigation into Possible Military Dimensions of Iran’s previous program, allowing the IAEA final report in December.

The IAEA’s ability to successfully implement this deal hinges on the agency receiving sufficient funding to take on this complex task. And we call on the international community to meet these needs. 

I’m going to finish my remarks with a set of topical highlights:

SECURITY

As already stated, the United States will host the fourth Nuclear Security Summit in Washington, DC next spring.  The Summits reaffirm the central role of the IAEA in global nuclear security.

The United States submitted its instrument of ratification for the Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM) to Director General Amano on July 31, 2015.  In addition, we plan to deposit our instrument of ratification for the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT) with the U.N. very soon.  The United States strongly urges all countries that have not yet done so to join.

ON SAFETY AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE

With more reactors coming online, nuclear safety cooperation is increasingly critical. We appreciate the Director General’s report on the Fukushima Daiichi accident. 

This year we reached a significant milestone on nuclear liability with the entry into force of the Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage, or CSC. 

ON ENERGY

As we approach the upcoming Paris climate negotiations, the threat of climate change calls for expanded use of nuclear power. We are urging for a higher profile for nuclear power as a solution in that meeting.

The U.S. Government has partnered with U.S. industry to support the licensing of SMRs as a key technology innovation.

PEACEFUL USES

The IAEA’s Technical Cooperation Program deserves our full support.  In addition, the IAEA’s Peaceful Uses Initiative, or PUI, is an essential source of voluntary funding.  During the 2015 NPT Review Conference, the United States announced an additional $50 million contribution to support the PUI over the next five years.

I am also pleased to announce that the United States has donated another $3 million to the IAEA’s Renovation of the Nuclear Applications at Seibersdorf projcct.

The United States commends the IAEA and Kazakhstan on signing the Host State Agreement for the IAEA LEU Bank, which is an important element of our collective peaceful uses and nonproliferation efforts.

IN CONCLUSION

We look to the IAEA to provide the necessary technical expertise to meet our shared goals, and the Agency’s financial resources, political support, and legal authorities must be commensurate with the task at hand.  Again, we urge all Member States to contribute toward that end. Thank you very much.
http://vienna.usmission.gov/150914gc.html