With 44 days to go until the UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow, leaders from ten nations plus the European Commission, European Council and United Nations last week joined US President Joe Biden in a closed-door forum at which they underscored the urgency of strengthening climate ambition ahead of COP26 and beyond. The USA and the EU also announced a Global Methane Pledge to cut global methane pollution by at least 30% from 2020 levels by 2030 through collective action.

Australia is to acquire nuclear submarines as the first initiative under a new enhanced trilateral security partnership announced by the leaders of Australia, the UK and the USA. The submarines are to be built in Australia, but the country is not seeking to acquire nuclear weapons or establish a civil nuclear capability, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said.

Polish chemical producer Ciech will consider nuclear technologies to replace coal burnt for power and process heat in its plants. Ciech has signed a Letter of Intent to cooperate with Synthos Green Energy, which is already working with GE-Hitachi and Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation.

Four small modular reactors will power the huge Baimskaya copper and gold mining development in the Russian Arctic, according to an agreement signed by Rosatom subsidiary Atomflot. The company's director general, Mustafa Kashka, said the deal was significant for the whole global market for small reactors.

The International Atomic Energy Agency and the International Organization for Standardization have renewed their commitment to continue working together. The organisations have been cooperating for the past 40 years in the development of international standards that ensure nuclear technology is used in a safe and secure manner.

Energoatom of Ukraine will explore the possible deployment of NuScale small modular reactors to replace fossil fuel plants, according to a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the companies. It is the latest in a series of agreements on energy signed during the visit of a Ukrainian delegation to the USA.

Ukraine and the USA have agreed to "deepen and intensify" their strategic cooperation in energy. Nuclear power leads a suite of agreements with a project to complete Khmelnitsky unit 4, followed up with four new AP1000 units at a total value of USD30 billion.

Nuclear energy must get a fair representation at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties to be held 31 October to 12 November in Glasgow, World Nuclear Association Director General Sama Bilbao y León has said in an open letter to COP26 President Alok Sharma. The full text of the 16 August letter is as follows.

Small modular reactor developer NuScale Power has signed a memorandum of understanding with Xcel Energy Inc to explore the feasibility of Xcel Energy serving as a plant operator at NuScale plants. Portland, Oregon-based NuScale is seeking an experienced nuclear plant operator to provide potential customers with operational support.

Romania and Canada have agreed to strengthen cooperation in nuclear energy in a key move enabling the completion, refurbishment and possible expansion of the Cernavoda nuclear power plant. The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in Bucharest yesterday follows similar agreements with the USA and France.

Samsung C&T Corporation has committed to making an equity investment in NuScale to support deployment of its small modular reactor and is developing a business collaboration agreement with NuScale's engineering, construction and procurement partner Fluor Corporation. The announcement comes days after Doosan Heavy Industries and Construction increased its investment to support deployment of NuScale's SMR.

South Korea's Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction has agreed to make an additional USD60 million investment in NuScale Power to continue to support deployment of its small modular reactor. Including the latest investment, DHIC and its financial investors have invested more than USD100 million in NuScale. DHIC and NuScale have also agreed to expand cooperation to the field of hydrogen production and desalination using SMRs.