Vienna: Over 100 delegates convened in Vienna last month to accelerate the establishment of a global nuclear liability regime under the framework of a global convention. The Fifth Meeting of the Contracting Parties and Signatories to the Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage (CSC) took place at the IAEA’s headquarters from June 23-26, 2025.

According to EMM, industry participants emphasized the necessity of establishing a global nuclear liability regime based on the CSC. This regime aims to provide legal certainty to all stakeholders in the nuclear industry worldwide, including operators, insurers, suppliers, and investors. The meeting also served as a platform for practical discussions regarding the operation of the CSC.

Ben McRae, Chair of the Fifth Meeting and Assistant General Counsel for Civilian Nuclear Programs at the US Department of Energy, stated that the CSC is the best way to address nuclear liability. It provides legal certainty, minimizes supply chain concerns, and boosts investor confidence.

A specialist panel discussed the CSC’s importance in relation to nuclear project costs. The meeting concluded with discussions on a potential CSC amendment to eliminate the obligation for States without nuclear reactors to contribute to the convention’s supplementary international fund, encouraging more countries to join.

The meeting highlighted growing momentum towards broad adherence to the CSC, which currently covers approximately forty percent of nuclear power plants globally. The CSC is viewed as the only pathway to universal participation in a global nuclear liability regime.

Anthony Wetherall, Head of the Nuclear and Treaty Law Section in the IAEA Office of Legal Affairs, described the CSC as a crucial element in establishing a global nuclear liability regime. He noted that the fifth meeting reflected efforts to amend the CSC, focusing on easing financial contributions from States without nuclear reactors.

The CSC, adopted under IAEA auspices in 1997, is the sole international nuclear liability convention covering around 180 nuclear power reactors worldwide. It involves 11 Parties and 11 Signatories and acts as an umbrella for countries adhering to existing nuclear liability conventions or possessing compatible national legislation.

The IAEA’s online CSC calculator allows countries to simulate potential contributions to the CSC’s supplementary international fund. The inaugural CSC meeting took place in Ottawa, Canada, in 2019, where the IAEA agreed to serve as the Secretariat for future meetings.