The Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) has launched a new initiative that aims to bring together leaders in government, industry, research and regulation to make the most of the potential of small modular reactors (SMRs) to help countries reduce their carbon emissions ahead of reaching their net zero emission targets by 2050.

The NEA said the initiative, Accelerating SMRs for Net Zero, will define a plan of work to speed up the development, deployment and operation of SMRs.

The initiative was announced at the Cop28 climate conference in Dubai by NEA director-general William Magwood, US Department of Energy deputy secretary, David Turk, and director of energy at the Directorate-General for Energy and Climate, French Ministry for Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion, Sophie Mourlon.