On July 25, 2024, CRDF Global, in coordination with the U.S. Department of State and UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, hosted a side event at the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) Preparatory Committee Meeting (PrepCom) in Geneva, Switzerland.

The side event provided delegations at NPT PrepCom with an overview of SDPU activities to date and featured a panel discussion highlighting the perspectives of previous SDPU participants on the importance of improving peaceful applications use in food, health, and water. The panel was moderated by Dr. Surbhi Grover of the University of Pennslyvania Oncology and included panelists Mr. Shota Kamishima of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Dr. Nwamaka Lasebikan of the Nigerian National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment, Dr. Awanwee Petchkongkaew of Thammasat University Thailand, Dr. Jaya Gurung of the Nepal Development Research Institute, and Dr. Alfredo Montes Niño of Microbióticos Paraguay SA. The side event aimed to expand awareness around the SDPU program, inspire collaboration among delegations surrounding the third pillar of the NPT, and facilitate contribution to networks and upcoming programming in support of the SDPU.

The overarching discussion focused on how the SDPU supports progress on United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) throughout its programming, including: 

  • Goal 2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture 
  • Goal 3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages 
  • Goal 6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all 
  • Goal 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all
  • Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
  • Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
  • Goal 17: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development.

For any questions, please contact the organizers sdpu@crdfglobal.org.