The world is engaged in the challenge of a rapid decarbonization of the economy to control global warming. The increasing and almost daily natural disasters directly related to the temperature increase both atmospherically and in the oceans, is pushing the entire world population to take urgent actions to mitigate, in any possible way, further and irreversible climate changes.

The IEEE Nuclear and Plasma Sciences Society is joining this effort, initiated by the IEEE Technical Activities Board, to explore its inherent assets and potentials in the energy and detection sectors to actively contribute both technically and educationally to the challenge. Representatives of the Technical Committees met to explore how to apply technical innovation and knowledge to better contribute to this goal. 

Decarbonization requires a portfolio of options in which renewable energies will have to provide the largest share of the generated energy, but with the evidence that they could not be used alone due to their intermittent nature. Other reliable low-carbon technologies such as nuclear fission and nuclear fusion, especially in their smaller modular forms, combined with the use of smart grids and engineered local energy storage will be needed to face the increase demand of energy. More than 50% of the generated energy is lost before reaching the end users, urging a more efficient use of available global fuel resources. In addition, mitigation of climate-related disasters, such as wildfires, floodings, droughts and the loss of water and food resources, calls for specific solutions. Early detection, simulation, and the use of engineered architecture and materials to build smart houses, should be used to provide solid means to face the extreme weather conditions towards the economy transition to efficient decarbonization. Finally, any debate on energy policies requires a basic understanding of the global facts of energy-related issues both at decisional and public level. It is our collective responsibility as STEM scientists to ensure that such a basic understanding permeates the societal and political debate. 

The IEEE identified its strategic position and is encouraging global participation. We propose an initiative which aims at exploring the current activities within all NPSS Technical Committees, identifying present and future common goals and funding sources to concretely contribute to technical and educational solutions to Climate Change.

We would like to encourage everyone already working on subjects related to climate change, or simply interested in exploring ways to contribute to join this effort. This invitation is open to everyone but is specially addressed to the younger members of the NPSS community who might have ideas they would like to explore. 

A web page has been created on: https://ieee-npss.org/climate-change-initiative/ to provide information to the community on activities, publications, and funding opportunities. We identified a few milestones for the next two years where we would like to collect interests from the community starting with the organization of an open workshop, open to all communities, and a school in 2024. 

We have identified a few specific topics as a starting point for exchange:

• Radiation Sources and Instrumentation
• Nuclear/Plasma for Energy, Beyond Energy and for Energy Storage
• Nuclear for Medicine 
• Nuclear Security and Safety 
• Big Data and Simulation

We took advantage of the NPSS-cosponsored ANIMMA Conference in Lucca (Italy) in June 2023 to organize a special event on Nuclear Energy and Climate Change, where nuclear energy experts joined the conference participants to discuss the status and challenges Europe faces in the transition towards decarbonized energy. Emphasis was given to the role policy makers; technology innovations and education could play important roles in contributing to current and future developments. 

The lively questions and answer section which followed the presentations continued well after the end of the dedicated time during a dinner sponsored by the conference and the European Physical Society.

Christophe Rossel, representing EPS, Switzerland, spoke of the energy future in Europe with the relevant technology and policies challenge.

Stephane Serrade, from CEA, France, presented the nuclear and renewable energies regarding carbon emission and climate change.

Michel Giot, from Louvain University, Belgium, discussed new perspectives in the field of nuclear instrumentation R&D reported at ANIMMA 2023.

Anyone interested in getting involved please contact [email protected]

Cinzia Da Via, IEEE NPSS liaison to the IEEE TAB Climate Change Initiative, can be reached by E-mail at [email protected]