International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

(Non Ad Hoc)

The International Atomic Energy Agency, or IAEA, was established in 1957, amid growing fears regarding nuclear technology. First proposed by the American president Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1954, who called for an international “ nuclear bank” the IAEA was meant to safeguard fissile material and waste. 

However, after the nuclear disaster in Chernobyl, and later the Fukushima disaster, the IAEA began to focus more of its efforts in increasing nuclear safety. As it stands now, the IAEA has three main missions:

• The peaceful uses of nuclear energy,

• The safeguarding of nuclear energy and waste,

• Ensuring the safety of nuclear energy.

The IAEA aims to achieve these goals by, in the case of the peaceful usage of nuclear energy, promoting the peaceful usage of nuclear energy. As stated in Article III, " Its primary functions in this area, according to Article III, are to encourage research and development, to secure or provide materials, services, equipment, and facilities for Member States, and to foster the exchange of scientific and technical information and training” 

In the case of safeguarding, the IAEA’s original goal, the IAEA aims to keep nuclear material and energy safe and secured, so that the information or material can be acquired by Member States at a request, but that it decreases the likelihood of it being used for military purposes.

Finally in the case of safety, the IAEA focuses on making nuclear power plants as safe and secure as possible. It spends 8,9% of its €352 million budget attempting to secure nuclear power plants from accidents.

At HMUN, the IAEA is there to look at the important issues of, what to do with the nuclear waste and how to keep it safe? How to increase the amount of nuclear power plants in LEDCs as a way to combat climate change, or if it is even a possibility. And finally how to tackle international mismanagement of nuclear material by Member States