Acknowledgments

There is growing interest worldwide in civilian nuclear power to meet increased energy demands. But the spread of nuclear technology, in the absence of rigorous independent regulatory regimes and international inspection programs, can present serious security risks, the proliferation of weapons capabilities, and safety dangers that can lead to accidents.

The Academy’s Global Nuclear Future (GNF) Initiative is working to prevent such dangerous outcomes by identifying and promoting measures that will limit the security, safety, and proliferation risks created by the apparent growing global appetite for nuclear energy. The GNF Initiative has created an interdisciplinary and international network of experts that is working together to devise and implement nuclear policy for the twenty-first century.

To help reduce the risks that could result from the global expansion of nuclear energy, the GNF Initiative addresses a number of key policy areas, including the international nonproliferation regime, the entirety of the fuel cycle, the physical protection of nuclear facilities and materials, and the interaction of the nuclear industry with the nonproliferation community. Each of these areas has specific challenges and opportunities, but informed and thoughtful policies for all of them are required for a comprehensive approach to reduce the risks inherent in the spread of nuclear technology.

We would like to thank the foundations that have allowed us to work on nuclear related issues throughout the course of the Academy’s Global Nuclear Future Initiative. We are deeply grateful to Carnegie Corporation of New York, The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, The Flora Family Foundation, and The Kavli Foundation for their support.

Steven E. Miller, Codirector of the GNF Initiative
Harvard Kennedy School

Scott D. Sagan, Codirector of the GNF Initiative
Stanford University