NEW YORK: Kuwait sounded the alarm on Wednesday over the growing global radiation threat, warning that the world is witnessing an alarming increase in radiation exposure levels affecting both humans and the environment, with potential health and environmental repercussions that could persist for decades. The remarks came in a statement delivered by Second Secretary Abdulrahman Mohammad Al-Ajmi before the Special Political and Decolonization Committee of the UN General Assembly under the agenda item “Impact of Atomic Radiation.” Kuwait’s delegation called for strengthening international systems for radiation monitoring and surveillance, and for taking proactive steps to address its effects.
“These growing challenges place on us, as an international community, a shared and urgent responsibility to intensify efforts to prevent the harmful or deliberate use of radioactive materials and technologies,” Al-Ajmi said. “Their use must remain confined to peaceful purposes that contribute to improving the quality of human life, especially in medicine, clean energy, agriculture, and scientific research.”
Al-Ajmi underscored the importance of enhancing environmental monitoring systems to track radiation levels and address the long-term impact of radioactive contamination on ecosystems and marine life. He stressed the need to harness peaceful nuclear technology in sustainable development fields such as water desalination and clean energy production, while maintaining a balance between development and environmental protection.
Highlighting Kuwait’s close cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Al-Ajmi noted that the country hosts four regional service and cooperation centers specializing in medicine, the marine environment, and radiation protection. The IAEA selected Kuwait to host these centers in recognition of its advanced scientific expertise, qualified national personnel, and modern technical infrastructure that support the agency’s research and regional initiatives.
He added that the Environmental and Life Sciences Research Center at the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) was recently re-accredited as an IAEA Cooperation Center for 2023–2027 in the field of marine radioactive contamination monitoring, reflecting international confidence in Kuwait’s leadership in environmental surveillance and marine radiation safety.
Furthermore, the Radioactivity Measurement Laboratory at KISR has been accredited as a regional resource center for environmental radiation monitoring under the framework of the Arab States in Western Asia (ARASIA) Group of the IAEA. A memorandum of understanding was signed during the ARASIA Conference held on September 16, 2025, reaffirming Kuwait’s commitment to expanding regional cooperation in this vital field.
Al-Ajmi also highlighted several successful joint projects implemented last year in collaboration with the IAEA, including initiatives to combat and treat cancer using peaceful nuclear technologies, as well as programs to monitor marine pollution from microplastics and assess its impact on seafood safety. These efforts, he said, reflect Kuwait’s distinguished role as an effective regional hub for nuclear science applications that promote sustainable development and environmental protection, in line with IAEA objectives.
In the field of nuclear security, Al-Ajmi said Kuwait’s cooperation with relevant UN agencies is guided by the Integrated National Nuclear Security Plan, which has proven to be an effective mechanism in building a comprehensive and sustainable national approach. The plan strengthens Kuwait’s nuclear security system and directs national efforts toward building an integrated infrastructure to prevent, detect, and respond to potential radiological threats.
He added that Kuwait continues to enhance its institutional, human, and technical capacities in nuclear security, including the monitoring and securing of radioactive sources, developing emergency response mechanisms, combating illicit trafficking of nuclear materials, and reinforcing border controls. National efforts, he said, are coordinated under a framework built around key pillars — legislation, prevention, detection, response, and sustainability — in full alignment with international standards.
Al-Ajmi reaffirmed Kuwait’s support for all scientific research and specialized committee work on the effects of atomic radiation, stressing the country’s commitment to continued cooperation with the IAEA and member states to prevent the negative impacts of nuclear radiation and ensure the safe, responsible use of nuclear technology for peace and sustainable development. — KUNA
