The International Atomic Energy Agency IAEA is an intergovernmental organization that seeks to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy and to inhibit its use for any military purpose, including nuclear weapons. It was established in as an autonomous organization within the United Nations system ; [4] [5] though governed by its own founding treatythe organization reports to both the General Assembly and the Security Council of the United Nationsand is headquartered at the UN Office at ViennaAustria.
The IAEA was created in response to growing international concern toward nuclear weapons, especially amid rising tensions between the foremost nuclear powers, the United States and the Soviet Union. President Dwight D. Eisenhower 's " Atoms for Peace" speechwhich called for the creation of an international organization to monitor the global proliferation of nuclear resources and technology, is credited with catalyzing the formation of the IAEA, whose treaty came into force on 29 July upon U.
The IAEA serves as an intergovernmental forum for scientific and technical cooperation on the peaceful use of nuclear technology Frågor och Svar nuclear power worldwide. It maintains several programs that encourage the development of peaceful applications of nuclear energy, science, and technology; provide international safeguards against misuse of nuclear technology and nuclear materials ; and promote and implement nuclear safety including radiation protection and nuclear security standards.
The organization also conducts research in nuclear science and provides technical support and training in nuclear technology to countries worldwide, particularly in the developing world. Following the ratification of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons inall non-nuclear powers are required to negotiate a safeguards agreement with the IAEA, which is given the authority to monitor nuclear programs and to inspect nuclear facilities.
Inthe IAEA and its administrative head, Director General Mohamed ElBaradeiwere awarded the Nobel Peace Prize "for their efforts to prevent nuclear energy from being used for military purposes and to ensure that nuclear energy for peaceful purposes is used in the safest possible way".
Three of the IAEA's six departments are principally charged with promoting the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. The Department of Nuclear Energy focuses on providing advice and services to Member States on nuclear power and the nuclear fuel cycle.
Article II of the IAEA Statute defines the Agency's twin objectives as promoting peaceful uses of atomic energy and "ensur[ing], so far as it is able, that assistance provided by it or at its request or under its supervision or control is not used in such a way as to further any military purpose.
The Department of Safeguards is responsible for carrying out this mission, through technical measures designed to verify the correctness and completeness of states' nuclear declarations. The IAEA classifies safety as one of its top three priorities. It spends 8.
Its resources are used on the other two priorities: technical co-operation and preventing nuclear weapons proliferation. The IAEA itself says that, beginning inin response to the nuclear reactor explosion and disaster near Chernobyl, Ukrainethe IAEA redoubled its efforts in the field of nuclear safety.
In Junethe IAEA chief said he had "broad support for his plan to strengthen international safety checks on nuclear power plants to help avoid any repeat of Japan's Fukushima crisis". Peer-reviewed safety checks on reactors worldwide, organized by the IAEA, have been proposed.
InU. Eisenhower proposed the creation of an international body to both regulate and promote the peaceful use of atomic power nuclear powerin his Atoms for Peace address to the UN General Assembly. This agency would establish a kind of "nuclear bank".
The United States also called for an international scientific conference on all of the peaceful aspects of nuclear power. Former US Congressman W. Cole served only one term, after which the IAEA was headed by two Swedes for nearly four decades: the scientist Sigvard Iaea uppgifter held the job from tofollowed by former Swedish Foreign Minister Hans Blixwho served from to Beginning inin response to the nuclear reactor explosion and disaster near ChernobylUkraine, the IAEA increased its efforts in the field of nuclear safety.