More than 20 countries, including the UAE and Morocco, have committed to tripling global nuclear energy capacity by 2050 at Cop28 in Dubai.

The Declaration to Triple Nuclear Energy was endorsed by nations across four continents; they are Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Ghana, Hungary, Japan, South Korea, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Ukraine, UAE, UK and the USA.

The US Energy Department said the declaration is a crucial step towards achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and maintaining the critical 1.5-degree temperature goal. It also underscores nuclear energy's role in carbon neutrality efforts as it offers a scalable source of clean, dispatchable baseload power essential for energy security.

The participants also adhered to the highest safety, sustainability, security, and non-proliferation standards.

New nuclear technologies, such as small modular reactors, support decarbonisation beyond the power sector, including in hard-to-abate industrial sectors. The declaration also covers managing nuclear fuel waste and promoting resilient supply chains.

It also emphasises the need for high-level political engagement and innovative financing mechanisms to mobilise investments in nuclear power. This includes encouraging international financial institutions and regional development banks to have nuclear energy in their lending policies.

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The UAE's involvement is significant given its strategic investments in nuclear energy, positioning it as a key player in the global shift towards sustainable energy sources. The Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, the Arab world's first nuclear energy plant in the UAE, exemplifies the country's commitment to diversifying its energy mix and reducing carbon emissions.

Other countries in the region have nuclear ambitions. Egypt has started constructing its nuclear power project at El-Dabaa, and Saudi Arabia is tendering a contract to build the kingdom’s first large-scale nuclear power plant.