Objectives
The World Nuclear Association is the global private-sector organization that seeks to promote the peaceful worldwide use of nuclear power as a sustainable energy resource for the coming centuries. Specifically, the WNA is concerned with nuclear power generation and all aspects of the nuclear fuel cycle, including mining, conversion, enrichment, fuel fabrication, plant manufacture, transport, and the safe disposition of spent fuel.
The WNA serves its Members by facilitating their interaction on technical, commercial and policy matters and by promoting wider public understanding of nuclear technology. This dual role can be stated as follows:
• To serve as the pre-eminent global forum and commercial meeting place for those engaged in providing the world's largest source of safe, economic and environmentally friendly energy; and
• To provide a respected information service on nuclear energy and to speak pro-actively on behalf of nuclear energy amongst policymakers, opinion leaders, the media and the public.
Activities and Services
The essential role of the World Nuclear Association is to facilitate commercially valuable interaction among its Institutional Members.
Ongoing WNA working groups, consisting of representatives of Institutional Members and supported by the London-based Secretariat, share information and develop analysis on a range of technical, trade and environmental matters. These subjects include:
• nuclear fuel production
• industry economics
• nuclear trade issues
• radiological protection
• ‘nuclear event’ definition
• transport
• waste management and decommissioning
• sustainable development and climate change
• security of the international nuclear fuel cycle
• safe and sustainable uranium stewardship
• global strategies on public education and public policy
A premise of all WNA Working Groups and WNA strategy development is a fundamental point embodied in the WNA Charter of Ethics: that nuclear energy is not a competitor of 'renewable' technologies such as wind and solar power, but rather a needed partner in meeting the world's vast and expanding need for clean energy.
When meeting to discuss industry issues, WNA members are cautioned to avoid any topic that could potentially create even the impression of an attempt to set prices or engage in other anti-competitive behaviour. Accordingly, topics not discussed in WNA meetings include terms of specific contracts; current or projected prices for products or services; allocation of markets; refusals to deal with particular suppliers or customers; or any similar matters that might impair competition within any segment of the nuclear industry.
A principal function of the WNA Secretariat is to provide information services to Members, policy makers, the media and the public. Two websites are used - one for Members only, the other for the general public at www.world-nuclear.org. Much of the information from WNA working groups is adapted for posting on the public website.
On the public website, the Secretariat's aim is to maintain the best available non-technical source of information on the global nuclear industry. The WNA website presents news, reference documents, and a wide range of educational and explanatory papers. The guiding philosophy is to achieve impeccable accuracy and to let the facts speak for themselves. In this spirit, the Secretariat welcomes feedback from website users.
In addition to steadily updating its website information, the WNA Secretariat produces occasional printed publications to fill identified needs in the realm of public advocacy and understanding.
Backing up WNA information services is a specialist library at WNA headquarters in London. The WNA library is open to individuals by telephone appointment. Enquiries can be made via email.
The WNA's Annual Symposium in London provides a Member forum, spotlights the role of the WNA's worldwide Affiliates and serves as a platform for distinguished speakers from throughout the world nuclear industry. The Annual Symposium usually provides the occasion for the presentation of one or more WNA Awards for 'Distinguished Contribution to the Peaceful Worldwide Use of Nuclear Energy'.
In 2002, the WNA award was given to the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) and those responsible for its creation.
In 2003, the award went to the 'Atoms for Peace' vision offered by President Dwight Eisenhower to the United Nations General Assembly in 1953. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of that historic initiative, WNA plaques were presented to three organizations that are the custodians of that vision: the Eisenhower Institute, the International Atomic Energy Agency, and the new World Nuclear University.
In 2004, the award went to Spain's Loyola Palacio for her strong leadership as Energy Commissioner in the European Union.
In 2005, the award was presented to Women in Nuclear (WIN). The award was accepted on behalf of WIN by WIN-Global president Junko Ogawa of Japan.
In 2006, the award was presented to Dr Peter Ell and Dr Michael Phelps for their pioneering work in the area of nuclear medicine. The WNA's own Director of Communications, Ian Hore-Lacy, was also honoured for his services to public information on nuclear energy.
In 2007, both Dr Mohamed Elbaradei and the secretariat of the IAEA and Dr James Lovelock received the WNA award.
In working to improve wider understanding of nuclear energy, the WNA Secretariat maintains cooperative links with a variety of national and regional nuclear associations and advocates.
WNA ‘Independent Affiliates’ comprise diverse nuclear-related organizations that have decided on affiliation with the WNA as a symbolic act of partnership:
• professional organizations with an international membership and a specific focus of interest;
• national or regional commercially-based membership organizations;
• national nuclear societies; and
• citizens’ organizations supporting nuclear power as a key clean energy option.
As the term ‘Independent Affiliate’ implies, WNA affiliation entails neither financial obligation nor implications for an organization's independence.
At its annual Symposium,the WNA spotlights the activities and achievements of key WNA Affiliates and their contribution to nuclear affairs worldwide. For Affiliates who can benefit from the assistance, the WNA provides website support services at no charge.
WNA Affiliates include:
• Environmentalists for Nuclear Energy (EFN)
• International Chernobyl Centre (ICC)
• International Youth Nuclear Congress (IYNC)
• Joan Pye Project
• NSnet (Nuclear Safety Network)
• Supporters of Nuclear Energy (SONE)
• Uranium Information Centre (UIC)
• Women in Nuclear (WIN-Global)
Nationally oriented Affiliates include:
• American Nuclear Society
• Australian Nuclear Association
• Austrian Nuclear Society
• Brazilian Association for Nuclear Development (ABDAN)
• British Energy Association
• British Nuclear Energy Society
• (British) Nuclear Industry Association (NIAUK)
• Bulgarian Atomic Forum
• Bulgarian Nuclear Society
• Canadian Nuclear Association
• Chinese Nuclear Society
• Czech Nuclear Society
• Finnish Nuclear Society
• Finnish Youth for Nuclear Energy
• French Nuclear Society
• German Atomic Forum
• Indian Nuclear Society
• Italian Nuclear Association
• Japan Atomic Industrial Forum
• Japanese Atomic Energy Society (AESJ)
• Kazakh Nuclear Society
• Korean Nuclear Society
• Polish Nuclear Society
• Romanian Nuclear Energy Association (AREN)
• Russian Nuclear Society
• Slovak Nuclear Society
• Spanish Nuclear Society
• Swedish Nuclear Society
• Swiss Nuclear Society
• Ukrainian Nuclear Society.
Funding
Accredited to the United Nations, the WNA is an independent, non-profit organization, funded primarily by membership subscriptions.