CALLING FOR ACTION

Abstract

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards are under more stress today than at any time in their history. Compliance concerns, a shortage of resources and technology, and growing responsibilities threaten to undermine the effectiveness and credibility of this vital and fundamental pillar of the nonproliferation regime. To address this challenge, the United States recently launched the Next Generation Safeguards Initiative. The goal of this initiative is to ensure the IAEA makes the fullest possible use of its existing authority to prevent the diversion of safeguarded material and to investigate suspicious activities. The initiative will advance state-of-the-art technology, foster the development of a new generation of safeguards experts, and promote technology collaborations and safeguards-conscious infrastructure in states using or pursuing nuclear power. Although it has a domestic focus, the initiative's intent is to catalyze a much broader commitment to international safeguards in partnership with other governments and the IAEA.

Keywords:

• Safeguards
• International Atomic Energy Agency
• Next Generation Safeguards Initiative
• National Nuclear Security Administration
• nonproliferation
• nuclear weapons

Notes

1. “The Agenda: Homeland Security,” White House, 2009, <www.whitehouse.gov/agenda/homeland_security>.

2. The full report is classified for Official Use Only. For the unclassified executive summary, see NNSA, “International Safeguards: Challenges and Opportunities for the 21^st Century,” <nnsa.energy.gov/nuclear_nonproliferation/documents/NGSI_Report.pdf>.

3. See, for example, Olli Heinonen, “Staying Ahead of the Game,” IAEA Bulletin 48/2, March 2007, pp. 9–11; Mohammed ElBaradei, “Nuclear Nonproliferation and Arms Control: Are We Making Progress?” Carnegie International Nonproliferation Conference, November 2005, <www.carnegieendowment.org/static/npp/2005conference/presentations/elbaradei.pdf>.

4. IAEA, “Reinforcing the Global Nuclear Order for Peace and Prosperity: The Role of the IAEA to 2020 and Beyond,” GOV/2008/22-GC(52)INF/4, May 23, 2008, p. 29, <www.iaea.org/NewsCenter/News/PDF/2020report0508.pdf>.

5. IAEA, “20/20 Vision For the Future: Background Report by the Director General for the Commission of Eminent Persons,” February 2008, pp. 20–21, <www.iaea.or.at/NewsCenter/News/PDF/20-20vision_220208.pdf>.

6. American Physical Society, “Nuclear Power and Proliferation Resistance: Securing Benefits, Limiting Risk,” American Physical Society Panel on Public Affairs, May 2005, <www.aps.org/policy/reports/popa-reports/proliferation-resistance/upload/proliferation.pdf>.

7. IAEA, “20/20 Vision For the Future,” p. 4.

8. IAEA, “Milestones in the Development of Nuclear Power,” No. NG-G-3.1, 2007, <www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub1305_web.pdf>.