The IAEA Engages the International Community on Radioactive Waste Management

The importance of the safe management of radioactive waste for the protection of people and the environment has long been recognized, and considerable experience has been gained in defining objectives, establishing safety standards and developing technology and mechanisms for meeting safety requirements. This is of fundamental relevance to the global nuclear industry as well as for the increasing use of nuclear energy. The IAEA safety standards reflect an international consensus on what constitutes a high level of safety for protecting people from the harmful effects of ionizing radiation and protecting the environment. This consensus serves to identify and give prominence to common safety concerns and also helps to give Member States an agreed basis for the harmonized application of the standards.