COP28 To COP30: Nuclear Energy In The Climate Equation – OpEd


COP30 in Brazil. Photo Credit: RICARDO STUCKERT, ABr

March 22, 2026 

By Hafsa Azam


Nuclear energy is becoming a central pillar in global plans to address climate change and also gaining importance as countries seek low-carbon climate solutions. The Conference of the Parties (COP30) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), was held in Belem, Brazil, in November 2025. The COP30 has been widely described as a “COP of Implementation” due to its emphasis on bringing existing initiatives into action than on new climate pledges. While the summit produced important agreement on adoption of mechanism for adaptation finance to track climate actions, one of its consequential developments was the reinforcement of role of nuclear energy in the global climate strategy.

In December 2023, during the COP28 held in Dubai, 25 countries including Armenia, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Finland, France, Ghana, Hungary, Jamaica, Japan, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Sweden, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States signed the Declaration to Triple Nuclear Energy by 2050. The initiative gained further momentum at subsequent climate summits, with six additional countries including Kazakhstan, Kenya, El Salvador, Kosovo, Nigeria and Turkiye joining at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, and two more countries including Rwanda and Senegal at COP30, bringing the total to 33 countries.

The COP28 Declaration to Triple Nuclear Energy underscores the essential role of nuclear energy in achieving global net-zero Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions by 2050, a prerequisite for keeping the 1.5 °C temperature-limit target within reach. It also highlights nuclear power’s contribution to energy security through supply of clean, reliable, and affordable source of electricity.

Beyond government commitments, strong support has also emerged from industry and finance for tripling nuclear energy. According to the World Nuclear Outlook Report presented at COP28, 130 nuclear-sector companies signed a pledge backing the tripling objectives. This was followed by New York Climate Week 2024, where 14 financial institutions publicly expressed support and explored ways in which the financial sector could facilitate nuclear expansion. Further endorsement came at Cambridge Energy Research Associates (CERA) Week observed in Houston, Texas in March 2025, where 14 major energy-consuming companies voiced their backing for tripling global nuclear capacity by mid-century.

According to the World Nuclear Outlook Report 2025 presented at COP30, global energy demand is increasing in order to meet the needs of populations with insufficient access to energy and electricity. Approximately 750 million people currently lack access to electricity, and emerging economies require significantly more power to support development. This rising demand is driven by a growing global population, which stands at approximately 8 billion today and is projected to increase to 9.8 billion by 2050 and 11.2 billion by 2100. At the same time, global GHG emissions continue to rise due to increasing energy demand.


International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that 2025 reached a record of 38.1 billion tonnes of CO2. This rise is largely driven by continued growth in coal, oil, and gas consumption, particularly in emerging economies and high-demand regions. The upward trend poses a serious challenge to efforts to limit global warming to below 1.5 °C under the Paris Agreement.

According to the World Nuclear Association, the capacity target outlined in the Declaration to Triple Nuclear Energy is anchored to 2020 levels, when global operable nuclear capacity stood at 393 GWe produced by 441 nuclear reactors. Tripling this figure would require nearly 1,200 GWe of operational capacity by 2050.

According to the World Nuclear Outlook Report 2025, 177 reactors have an operating lifetime of 60 years, while 203 reactors are expected to receive lifetime extensions to 80 years. In addition, 75 reactors are currently under construction, 103 reactors are planned, 295 reactors have been proposed, and 24 reactors are considered potential projects. To meet the national targets, 538 additional nuclear capacity units would be required. If these targets are achieved, global nuclear capacity could reach 1,428 GWe by 2050.

According to the World Nuclear Association Reactor Data 2025, the global nuclear power sector is largely shaped by large-scale reactors. As of October 2025, a total of 438 nuclear reactors were in operation worldwide, providing combined capacity of 397 GWe. Pressurized Water Reactors (PWRs) dominate the operating fleet, representing over 70% of all reactors. Boiling Water Reactors (BWRs) account for 14%, while Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) make up 11%. Light-Water Graphite-Moderated Reactors (LWGRs) and Gas-Cooled Reactors (GCRs) represent about 2% of the total, respectively. Only two Fast Neutron Reactors (FNRs) and one High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor (HTGR) are currently operational.


During COP30, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) hosted its Atoms4Climate and Atoms4Net Zero Pavilions and underscored the role of nuclear energy and technologies in addressing climate mitigation, adaptation, and decarbonization. IAEA’s key priorities include innovative financing mechanisms, the deployment of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), and the use of nuclear applications in agriculture, food security, and environmental monitoring.

During its participation in COP30, Pakistan underscored the extreme climate vulnerability of the country, despite its contribution of less than one percent to global GHG emissions. The devastating floods of 2022 and 2025 highlighted the country’s acute exposure to climate extremes, displacing millions and worsening poverty. In this context, at COP30, Pakistan called for survival, climate justice, and fair global support for developing countries.

Nuclear energy could play a key role in mitigating climate change in Pakistan, who’s energy deficit has been a longstanding problem. With a population of over 250 million, Pakistan struggles to meet growing energy demand. Nuclear power offers a reliable and independent energy source. In contrast to fossil fuels, nuclear power does not rely on imports and offers Pakistan a level of energy independence that is vital for national security. While speaking at the 69th IAEA General Conference in Vienna on 15 September 2025, Chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC), Mr Ali Raza Anwar, reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the peaceful use of nuclear technology for sustainable development and international cooperation. He highlighted that Pakistan’s six nuclear power plants contribute 18.3% to the national energy mix and also help avoid nearly 15 million tonnes of Carbon Dioxide (CO2)emissions each year.


Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, during his official visit to Vienna on 17 February 2026, reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for the IAEA in the promotion of safe and responsible use of nuclear technology in areas such as agriculture, industrial applications, nuclear power generation, and cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Investing in nuclear power could bring multiple economic benefits. Construction of NPPs in line with Pakistan Vision 2050 to produce 42,000 MWe nuclear power would create jobs, vitalize technological development, and produce a skilled workforce. Additionally, nuclear power would also offer long-term price stability, which is especially important in the light of the unpredictable fluctuations in international oil and gas prices for geopolitical reasons.




Hafsa Azam

Hafsa Azam is a Research Officer at the Center for International Strategic Studies Sindh. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Sciences from Bahria University, Karachi. Her areas of interest include climate change, climate mitigation and adaptation, environmental impact assessment, environmental policies and laws, environmental hazards and management, occupational health and safety, Sustainable Development Goals, energy and artificial intelligence.