IFNEC Global Ministerial Executive Committee Meeting and Conference: Bringing the World SMRs and Advanced Nuclear

13 November 2019 – 14 November 2019

Washington D.C., United States

During the International Framework for Nuclear Energy Cooperation’s (IFNEC) 12–14 November 2019 Ministerial-level Executive Committee meeting and Global Ministerial Conference titled, Bringing the World Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and Advanced Nuclear, the NICE Future initiative was prominently featured, including in a panel co-organized by the NICE Future initiative on clean energy innovation.

The NICE Future initiative is proud to partner with the International Framework for Nuclear Energy Cooperation (IFNEC) on its role in developing policies and cooperation for the development of secure, clean and abundant nuclear energy in both electric and nonelectric applications. During the week’s Ministerial events, IFNEC affirmed it will prioritize the pressing issue of climate change and a global clean energy future through important collaborations, such as with the NICE Future initiative and the International Youth Nuclear Congress.

group photo of 2019 IFNEC meeting attendees — IFNEC Ministerial-level Executive Committee members warmly welcomed as its new Chair Suzie Jaworowski, Senior Advisor of the U.S. Department of Energy (center-left) at its annual meeting. The meeting highlighted efforts like those of the NICE Future initiative, bringing nuclear into global clean energy discussions and educating key audiences on the availability of innovative options like SMRs.

U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry standing at podium — U.S Secretary of Energy Rick Perry underscores the importance of advancing nuclear energy as a leading clean energy source at 14 November 2019 IFNEC White House Conference.

Chuck Fleischmann, Rita Baranwal, Julian Gadano, Rick Perry, Lisa Murkowski, and Suzie Jaworowski, standing for a photo. — Rick Perry (third from the right)—who provided keynote remarks at the 14 November IFNEC Ministerial Conference at the White House—is joined by Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, Ranking Member of House Committee on Appropriations; Rita Baranwal, U.S. DOE Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy; IFNEC outgoing chair Julian Gadano, Deputy Secretary of Energy of Argentina; Senator Lisa Murkowski, and Suzie Jaworowski, incoming Chair of IFNEC and Member of the NICE Future initiative Lead Countries Team.

two men and a woman seated at a table in front of microphones — On 13 November, U.S. Under Secretary of Energy Mark Menezes (center) outlined the importance of NICE Future initiative work at a meeting of IFNEC’s Executive Committee, which invites the views of ministers from 65 Countries and 4 international organizations. Menezes emphasized the NICE Future initiative mission in “showcasing the roles that nuclear energy can play as both a primary and complementary energy source in bolstering environmental stewardship, economic growth, energy access, and security.” He stressed that there are “1.3 billion people living in energy poverty who desperately need the empowerment that energy—nuclear energy—brings… Nuclear provides nearly one third of the world’s clean energy.

two men and a women seat at a table in front of microphones, and a man standing at a podium — IFNEC highlighted NICE Future initiative themes with speakers (L-R) Facundo Deluchi of Argentina’s Energy Ministry; Suzie Jaworowski, Senior Advisor, Policy and Communications, Office of Nuclear Energy, U.S. Department of Energy; Jean-Michel Ruggieri of CEA Director of the SMR Program, France; and Zbigniew Kubacki, Deputy Director for Nuclear Energy, Ministry of Energy, Poland.