Carleton Research Offers Nuclear Advice to Governments

(Ottawa) –Global Nuclear Governance Needs Improving. In a landmark report released today, Trevor Findlay, director of the Canadian Centre for Treaty Compliance (CCTC) at Carleton University, concludes that a significant worldwide expansion of nuclear energy is unlikely to occur before 2030 and offers advice to the international community on the future of nuclear governance.

Nuclear Energy and Global Governance to 2030 reports the findings of the Nuclear Energy Futures project undertaken jointly by the CCTC and the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) in Waterloo, Ontario.

The report, based on three and a half years of research, is unique in considering together the normally separate subjects of nuclear safety, security and non-proliferation.

It argues that a significant expansion of nuclear energy is unlikely to happen before 2030 due to a number of constraints on both existing and aspiring nuclear energy states.

“Despite some powerful drivers, a revival of nuclear energy faces too many barriers compared to other means of generating electricity,” states Dr. Findlay.

He outlines several challenges, including unfavourable economics, fewer government subsidies, demands for energy efficiency, nuclear waste and fears about nuclear weapons.

But the unlikelihood of a significant nuclear revival provides a much-needed window of opportunity to fix an inadequate system for governing nuclear energy, Findlay argues, in order to avoid accidents, nuclear terrorism and weapons proliferation.

Existing regimes for safety, security and non-proliferation currently react to rather than anticipate threats and crises, says the report. They are underfunded, under-resourced and often lacking in transparency. Improved co-ordination with the civilian nuclear industry is critical.

“Global governance in the nuclear realm is already facing significant challenges, even without the prospect of a nuclear energy revival,” says Findlay. “The desire of states for the benefits of nuclear energy should be levered to reinforce global governance.’’

The report recommends specific steps that the international community should take to:

• Ensure all states are capable of implementing the highest nuclear safety standards;
• Ensure all nuclear material and facilities are secure from unauthorized access or terrorist seizure or attack;
• Ensure the spread of nuclear energy does not contribute to proliferation of nuclear weapons;
• Reinforce the centrality of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) through increased funding, modernization and reform;
• Ensure all stakeholders, especially industry, participate in the global governance of nuclear energy.

”The deal for aspiring states should be: If you want civilian nuclear power, you have to agree to the highest international standards for avoiding nuclear accidents, nuclear terrorism and diversion of materials to nuclear weapons,“ concludes the report. ”The deal for existing advanced nuclear states should be: If you want the newcomers to comply with a newly strengthened global regime that was not in place when you first acquired nuclear energy, you have to multilateralize the fuel cycle and disarm yourselves of nuclear weapons.”

Nuclear Energy and Global Governance to 2030 is the final report of the Nuclear Energy Futures project. Chaired by CIGI Distinguished Fellow Louise Fréchette and directed by Findlay, it began in 2006 with the aim of investigating the implications of a purported nuclear energy revival for nuclear safety, security and non-proliferation.

The project has produced a unique online Survey of Emerging Nuclear Energy States (SENES) and A Guide to Global Nuclear Governance, the first comprehensive guide to the international nuclear treaties, organizations, initiatives and networks in the field.

To view or download a copy of the report, please visit http://www.carleton.ca/cctc/nef_report.html