Nice: The IAEA highlighted the role of nuclear science in protecting our oceans at the 2025 United Nations Oceans Conference held last week in Nice, France.
According to EMM, the conference, co-hosted by France and Costa Rica, convened over 10,000 participants, including scientists, diplomats, and politicians, to address the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. It aimed to accelerate progress towards SDG14, Life Below Water, through innovative technologies and action. The IAEA took center stage at the event to share how nuclear technology is boosting ocean health and tackling critical threats such as marine plastic pollution.
The IAEA organized and participated in more than a dozen events at the conference, and on research vessels in the Port of Nice. Experts from the IAEA's Marine Environment Laboratories in Monaco highlighted how isotopic tools can help monitor and reduce plastic pollution in the ocean.
At the previous UN Ocean Conference four years ago, the IAEA announced NUTEC Plastics, an initiative providing countries with tools to address marine microplastic pollution. Significant progress has been made with 99 countries involved, and more than 100 Member State laboratories worldwide being equipped to translate data into policies and action.
NUTEC Plastics supports countries in researching microplastics and using nuclear techniques to improve recycling methods. Florence Descroix-Comanducci, Director of the IAEA Marine Environment Laboratories, emphasized the value of nuclear and isotopic techniques in boosting ocean health. The laboratories in Monaco assist Member States in implementing these techniques and developing harmonized methods to generate globally comparable data.
Panelists at IAEA-organized events stressed the need to address the plastic life cycle's origins to prevent further pollution, employing a source-to-sea approach to reduce marine litter. Martin Adams, Head of the Environment Department at the European Environment Agency, highlighted the importance of timely and relevant data to guide action. Other events focused on ocean-based carbon dioxide removal, ocean acidification, IAEA support for Small Island Developing States (SIDS), and nuclear energy and ocean health.
The IAEA's expertise in nuclear applications contributes to mitigation efforts by using radiation technology for waste recycling and monitoring impacts of microplastic pollution through isotopic techniques. The NUTEC Plastics initiative has 99 countries participating in marine microplastic monitoring and 52 developing innovative recycling technology.
The International High-Level Forum on NUTEC Plastics, organized by the IAEA on 25-26 November 2025, in Manila, Philippines, will highlight achieved progress, address challenges, and chart a course to strengthen regional and international cooperation in managing plastic waste sustainably through innovative nuclear technologies.
