Six nations join pledge to triple nuclear power by 2050 at COP29

During the World Climate Action Summit at COP29, six countries—El Salvador, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kosovo, Nigeria, and Türkiye—endorsed the global commitment to triple nuclear energy capacity by 2050, bringing the total to 31 signatory nations. 

Initiated by France with 20 countries at COP28, the pledge underscores nuclear energy’s critical role in limiting global warming to 1.5°C per the Paris Agreement.

World Nuclear Association (WNA) Director-General Sama Bilbao y León celebrated the new signatories, emphasizing nuclear energy’s cost-effective contribution to achieving climate goals. 

The US also revealed a road map at COP29 for deploying 200 GW of nuclear capacity by 2050, with interim milestones of 35 GW by 2035 and 15 GW annually from 2040.

Nuclear energy, generating 9% of global electricity in 2023, is seeing significant momentum, with 64 reactors under construction across 15 nations. The nuclear expansion includes efforts to secure a fuel supply chain free from Russian influence, reinforcing its role in the energy transition.