How Including Nuclear in the Loss and Damage Fund Advances US and the Global South’s Interests

Lindsay Hall, and Paul Murphy

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Nuclear energy can serve as the “bridge” in the discussion between geopolitical and energy security on one side, and decarbonization and development on the other. Including nuclear energy in the Loss and Damage Fund can strengthen US nuclear leadership and help the Global South build low-carbon solutions that support water security and economic growth.

There is a clear correlation between electrification and prosperity. Intergovernmental organizations have recognized the economic and security imperative of developing reliable and resilient infrastructure, with the United Nations (UN) recognizing the need to close the “significant infrastructure gap in critical sectors” in developing countries, including energy and water infrastructure, to “greatly improve access to essential services, employment opportunities, economic growth and sustainable development.”

By 2050, the global urban population is expected to double, with nearly seven of 10 people living in urban areas, many being pulled by economic opportunities and pushed from agricultural disruptions, conflict, and other issues in rural areas. As urban populations continue to swell, energy, water, transportation, and other infrastructure must also grow to meet new residential, commercial, and industrial needs. Urban areas account for around 75 percent of current global energy consumption, which is projected to increase as urban populations continue to rise. However, more than 100 million people living in cities around the world lack access to electricity, with even greater numbers lacking access to safely managed drinking water.

With tremendous financial resources available to developing countries through the United Nations Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD), many cities in the Global South have a unique opportunity to build the modern energy and water infrastructure needed to support the rising demands of growing urban centers. Given that much of this available funding is allocated based on climate vulnerabilities, recipient countries may be particularly concerned about the entrenchment of oil and gas infrastructure, and local governments will need to scrutinize a power source’s air quality impacts on urban environments and the feasibility of supporting dispersed ancillary infrastructure.