LONDON

The Belgian prime minister on Thursday described global warming as an "enormous challenge," suggesting that combating it will necessitate the use of nuclear energy.

"Every day in every corner of the globe, the consequences of climate change are becoming increasingly visible," Alexander De Croo said in his opening remarks at the Nuclear Energy Summit in Brussels.

Touching on global warming as an enormous challenge, he noted that fighting it will require large amounts of carbon-neutral energy that are fast, safe, and reliable.

"It will require a perspective for sustainable growth. It will require us to have our citizens and industries on board. It will require nuclear energy as part of the mix," De Croo added.

He also mentioned that nuclear energy will be part of achieving net zero decarbonization targets.

Belgium's coastline is very limited, the premier said, stressing that the country's offshore wind power production in the North Sea will be quadrupled by 2030.

For his part, Rafael Mariano Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said decarbonizing energy sources is a "fight" that requires the use of all available sources.

"It is good that it has happened, better late than never and now we need to see what is needed," he noted, referring to previous conferences on climate change and suggesting that nuclear energy should be accelerated.   

 'World more dangerous, unpredictable than ever'

European Council President Charles Michel pointed out the links between security and energy independence, saying a more sovereign Europe is "not just wishful thinking."

"Today, the world is more dangerous and unpredictable than ever. War, conflict, climate change, and the digital revolution," he said, adding they must take greater responsibility for the common future.

Michel said their actions must match their ambition, and there is a need to be "a lot stronger" in security and defense.

"We must be more independent in the energy sector and less dependent on unreliable regimes for energy. More independence means more freedom, freedom to act boldly to defend our interests and to promote our fundamental values."

He said nuclear energy can help ensure stability when fossil fuel power plants are phased out, and that it can also help the world fight climate change by lowering greenhouse gas emissions.

Many countries are "giving a fresh look" to the potential role that nuclear might play, following the global energy crisis caused by Russia's war on Ukraine, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.

"Let us not forget that nuclear power worldwide is the second largest source of low-emission electricity after hydropower," she reminded.

The Nuclear Energy Summit near the Atomium, a landmark modernist structure, drew over 300 CEOs, entrepreneurs, scientists, civil society representatives, and 37 political leaders.

This is the very first nuclear energy summit and the highest-level meeting to date, exclusively focused on nuclear energy.

The two-day nuclear summit will mainly focus on "nuclear energy in addressing the global challenges to reduce the use of fossil fuels, enhance energy security and boost economic development.