The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and World Meteorological Organization (WMO) concluded the first International Conference on the Safety and Resilience of Nuclear Installations Against External Hazards today, issuing a strong Call for Action for a multi-year global initiative to bolster nuclear resilience through proactive, forward-looking strategies.
Over 370 experts from more than 70 IAEA Member States and nine international organizations gathered in Vienna to address rising threats from climate-driven extreme weather and other external hazards. More than 100 oral presentations explored prediction of evolving natural hazards, regulatory adaptations, plant resilience including flexible equipment and emergency procedures, passive safety features in advanced reactors, and lessons from case studies.
“The potential of AI in nuclear technology is immense,” says IAEA Director General @rafaelmgrossi.
From growing demand for nuclear power due to data-centres to innovation in nuclear tech, we’ll explore the growing synergies between nuclear energy and AI. Key industry leaders &… pic.twitter.com/FFgimPmqOE— IAEA – International Atomic Energy Agency ⚛️ (@iaeaorg) December 1, 2025
IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi opened the conference, stressing that resilience is achieved by designing plants with sufficient margins for “known and unknown threats.” He warned of cascading risks: “Imagine a country where nuclear provides half the electricity; an earthquake or flood forces shutdown. Restarting takes time, winter arrives, energy prices surge. We must avoid such scenarios—this is where we can do better.”
WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo emphasized: “Nuclear installations must remain safe for decades. Hazard assessments must be forward-looking, based on weather and climate insights and intelligence.”
Key Outcomes and Call for Action The conference urged the IAEA to launch a multi-year initiative focused on:
- Enhanced preparedness and organizational resilience
- Continuous learning and knowledge sharing
- Robust power generation and distribution networks for reliable energy delivery
Participants stressed that nuclear safety extends beyond siting, design, and operation to proactive anticipation and prevention, even in unpredictable scenarios. They called for risk-informed regulatory standards, closer collaboration between established and embarking nuclear states, and integration of state-of-the-art modelling for rare-event predictions.
Delegates toured the IAEA’s Incident and Emergency Centre and Lise Meitner Library, gaining insights into global nuclear emergency coordination and peaceful uses of nuclear technology.
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The conference reaffirmed nuclear power’s vital role in clean, reliable energy while highlighting the urgent need for resilience-informed strategies to protect communities and ensure public confidence in nuclear safety worldwide.
