The nuclear energy industry is entering a new phase of transformation. This shift is no longer just about building reactors—it is about building them faster, smarter, and more efficiently.

A recent breakthrough led by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), in collaboration with Idaho National Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory, Microsoft, NVIDIA, Everstar, and Aalo Atomics, highlights that AI tools can streamline the nuclear regulatory process.

AI and DOE’s Genesis Mission: Breaking Bottlenecks in Nuclear Energy Deployment

The work supports President Trump’s Genesis Mission, a national initiative aimed at driving a new era of AI-accelerated innovation and discovery. The mission focuses on using advanced technologies like AI to solve critical national challenges, from energy to healthcare and beyond.

Under the Genesis Mission, DOE recently announced $293 million in competitive funding to tackle twenty-six pressing science and technology challenges, including one dedicated to speeding up nuclear energy deployment.

Rian Bahran, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Reactors. said,

“Now is the time to move boldly on AI-accelerated nuclear energy deployment,” “This partnership, combined with the President’s orders, represents more than incremental ‘uplift’ improvements. It has the potential to transform how industry prepares its regulatory submissions and deploys nuclear energy while upholding the highest standards of safety and compliance.” 

Simply put, from licensing to construction and operations, AI is now helping eliminate long-standing bottlenecks.

Faster Nuclear Licensing with Advanced Tools

The DOE’s recent announcement is a big step in modernizing nuclear regulation. Normally, preparing licensing documents for nuclear reactors is slow and complicated. It requires reviewing thousands of pages of technical data and making sure everything meets strict rules.

This shows how AI can make nuclear licensing faster and more accurate, helping advanced reactors reach the market sooner. Here’s how AI is simplifying this usually long and complex process.

Kevin Kong, CEO and Founder of Everstar, added:

“Nuclear is poised to solve today’s critical energy challenges,” said  “We’re excited to partner with INL to meet the moment, working together to accelerate regulatory review and commercialization.”  

Microsoft and NVIDIA Partnership: Building AI Infrastructure for Nuclear Energy

While the DOE demonstration focused on licensing, the broader transformation is being driven by a powerful collaboration between Microsoft and NVIDIA.

Together, they are developing a full-stack AI ecosystem designed specifically for nuclear energy. This platform combines cloud computing, simulation tools, and advanced AI models to streamline every phase of a nuclear project.

Key technologies in this ecosystem include:

• NVIDIA Omniverse for simulation and digital modeling
• NVIDIA CUDA-X and AI Enterprise for high-performance computing
• Microsoft Azure AI for data processing and automation
• Microsoft’s Generative AI tools for permitting and documentation

This integrated system enables developers to manage complex workflows in a unified environment. Instead of working with disconnected tools and datasets, teams can now operate within a single, AI-powered framework.

As a result, nuclear projects become more efficient, transparent, and predictable.

Carmen Krueger, Corporate Vice President, US Federal, Microsoft, further added:

Aalo Atomics: Cutting Permitting Time and Costs with AI

One of the most compelling real-world examples of AI impact comes from Aalo Atomics.

By leveraging Microsoft’s Generative AI for Permitting solution, Aalo has achieved dramatic improvements in project timelines. The company reported:

• A 92% reduction in permitting time
• Estimated annual savings of $80 million

These results show how AI can address one of the biggest challenges in nuclear development—delays caused by regulatory complexity.

Permitting often takes years and requires extensive documentation. However, AI can automate much of this work, allowing teams to focus on critical decision-making rather than repetitive tasks.

For Aalo, the value goes beyond speed. The technology also improves confidence in project execution by ensuring that all documentation is consistent, complete, and aligned with regulatory expectations.

This video demonstrated further details:

AI-Powered Nuclear Lifecycle: From Design to Operations

The impact of AI is not limited to licensing. It extends across the entire lifecycle of a nuclear plant. In the blog post, written by Darryl Willis, Corporate Vice President, Worldwide Energy and Resources Industry of Microsoft, explained how AI can help nuclear in a broader context.

• Design and Engineering Optimization: AI and digital twins allow engineers to simulate reactor designs in real time. This enables faster iteration and better decision-making. Developers can reuse proven design patterns and instantly evaluate how changes affect performance, safety, and cost.
• Licensing and Permitting Automation: Generative AI handles document drafting, data integration, and gap analysis. It ensures that applications are complete and consistent, reducing delays during regulatory review. This allows experts to focus on safety assessments instead of administrative tasks.
• Construction and Project Delivery: Advanced simulations now include time and cost dimensions. These 4D and 5D models allow developers to track progress, predict delays, and avoid costly rework. AI also enables real-time monitoring, ensuring that construction stays on schedule and within budget.
• Predictive maintenance and Plant Performance: Once a plant is operational, AI continues to add value. Predictive maintenance systems can detect issues early, reducing downtime and improving reliability. Digital twins provide continuous insights into plant performance, helping operators maintain optimal efficiency.

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Climate change is not only a physical threat, but it also affects the world’s economy. A major new study published in the journal Nature on March 25, 2026, puts a clear number on this impact. It finds that carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from the United States caused about $10.2 trillion in total economic damage worldwide between 1990 and 2020. This makes the U.S. the largest single contributor to climate-related economic loss over that period.

The study shows that emissions slow economic growth in many countries. Rising temperatures cut productivity, lower output, and hurt long-term economic performance around the globe.

Marshall Burke, the lead author of the study, remarked:

“If you warm people up a little bit, we see very clear historical evidence, you grow a little bit less quickly. If you accumulate those effects over 30 years, you just get a really large change by the end of 30 years. It’s like death by a thousand cuts. And you have people being harmed who did not cause the problem, and that feels just fundamentally unfair.”

The researchers focused on carbon dioxide, the most common greenhouse gas. They used data on how temperature affects economic activity and then linked that to how much CO₂ different countries have emitted since 1990. This method links climate science to real economic results, including slower growth, lower productivity, and smaller national outputs.

Counting the Dollars: $10 Trillion in U.S.-Linked Damage

One of the study’s central findings is striking. From 1990 to 2020, U.S. emissions likely caused around $10.2 trillion in global economic damage. This means that warming linked to U.S. emissions has reduced economic production across many countries. The study links these impacts to heat’s long-term effects on labor, agriculture, and overall economic growth.

The damage is not confined to other nations. Roughly 30% of that $10.2 trillion figure is estimated to have occurred within the United States itself. In other words, U.S. emissions have slowed economic growth at home as well as abroad. The remaining impacts are spread across the global economy.

The researchers found that U.S. emissions led to about $500 billion in damage in India and around $330 billion in Brazil during that time. These figures show how carbon released in one area can affect economies far away.

A New Framework for Loss and Damage

The Nature study introduces a new framework for assessing what scientists call “loss and damage.” This term refers to harms that cannot be prevented by reducing emissions or avoided through adaptation alone.

The study uses economic data and climate models. It tracks how temperature changes over the years impact economic output.

• To put the numbers into context: one tonne of CO₂ emitted in 1990 is estimated to have caused about $180 in global economic damages by 2020.

But that same tonne is projected to cause an additional $1,840 of cumulative damage by 2100, as warming continues and its effects compound over time. This highlights that past emissions still contribute to future economic harm.

The researchers highlight that these estimates focus on economic output, like goods and services. They do not account for all types of climate damage. They do not include costs from loss of life, health impacts, biodiversity collapse, cultural heritage losses, or many kinds of infrastructure damage. These excluded impacts could raise the true total cost of climate change even further.

The Social Cost of Carbon Revisited

This study is part of a broader scientific effort to understand the economic impacts of climate change. Climate and economic models show that rising temperatures are already slowing economic growth. If emissions stay high, this slowdown will get worse in the future.

Analyses by major international institutions and research groups project that climate change could reduce global GDP by a significant percentage by mid-century. This is compared to scenarios with strong mitigation, though exact figures vary by method.

The concept of estimating a “social cost of carbon” (SCC) — a monetary estimate of economic damage per tonne of CO₂ — has been used in policy analysis for years. It helps governments weigh trade-offs in climate policy. For example, they can decide how much to invest in emissions cuts versus adaptation.

However, traditional SCC estimates have been debated. They depend on assumptions about future growth, discount rates, and climate sensitivity. The Nature study advances this approach by tying economic outcomes directly to observed climate impacts.

Economists and climate scientists agree that warming impacts several areas. These include agricultural yields, labor productivity, energy demand, and health outcomes. These effects reduce economic output and increase costs for businesses and governments. The latest research makes these links more explicit by assigning dollar values to the historical impacts of emissions.

Equity and Global Responsibility

The research’s results also highlight important equity questions. Low-income countries often face bigger economic impacts compared to their emissions histories.

For example, nations with warmer climates and more fragile infrastructure may experience greater output losses due to temperature increases. These effects grow over time and can worsen existing development challenges.

At the same time, richer countries with higher historical emissions may take a larger share of responsibility for damage. The Nature study shows it is possible to calculate responsibility in monetary terms. However, turning those numbers into legal or financial obligations is still complex.

Remarkably, the paper also shows that climate damage can be linked to specific activities, individuals, and companies. Burning fossil fuels for long flights greatly adds to warming.

• Just one round-trip intercontinental flight each year for ten years can cause about $25,000 in global economic damage by 2100.

Bill Gates’ emissions stand out due to his frequent air travel and high energy use. These personal and business choices significantly contribute to his overall impact. Saudi Aramco, a top fossil fuel producer, has caused an estimated $3 trillion in climate-related economic damage worldwide since 1991.

Tail Risks and Future Costs

The researchers also point toward the future. It finds that future damages from past emissions are much larger than the losses already accrued.

Since CO₂ remains in the atmosphere for centuries, its warming effects — and the economic damages linked to them — will persist well beyond 2020. This “tail risk” means that the total cost of historical emissions could rise sharply over the rest of this century.

Climate risk is increasingly integrated into economic planning and finance. Governments, businesses, and international institutions are incorporating climate scenarios into investment decisions and risk models.

This includes assessing how rising temperatures may affect infrastructure costs, insurance markets, supply chains, and national budgets. Without strong mitigation and adaptation measures, these economic pressures are expected to grow.

A Shared Reality, Quantified

The Nature study offers a clear and data-based way to think about the economic harms of climate change. Emissions from the United States since 1990 have caused over $10 trillion in global economic damage. This includes harm in the U.S., India, and Brazil. 

These findings do not assign legal liability. However, they provide a meaningful picture of how climate change affects the global economy in terms of the social costs of carbon. They show that the costs of climate impacts are measurable and significant.

As the world continues to adapt and respond to climate change, understanding these economic links will be crucial for policymakers, businesses, and communities.

• READ MORE: European Central Bank (ECB) Tilts Green: 38% Cut in Portfolio Emissions, Adds Nature Risk to Climate Disclosures

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Verra is moving closer to launching its long-awaited Scope 3 Standard (S3S) Program, with version 1.0 phase 1 now scheduled for Q3 2026. This first release will allow companies to list project pipelines using an initial set of S3S-adapted methodologies. Although the timeline is slightly later than expected, the delay reflects a deeper push to build a stronger, more reliable system.

This move shows a clear focus on quality and long-term impact. Verra is not rushing the launch. Instead, it is taking time to improve the system. The team is refining technical frameworks, learning from pilot projects, and aligning with global standards. As a result, the final program will be stronger and easier to use. It is also likely to attract more companies and drive real climate action across supply chains.

Verra Aligns the Program With Global Climate Standards

Verra is working closely with companies, project developers, and climate experts. The goal is simple. Build a program that is practical, reliable, and easy to trust.

The extra time helps improve how the system connects with existing carbon markets. It also allows Verra to upgrade its digital tools and infrastructure. At the same time, lessons from pilot projects are shaping the final design. These pilots tested how existing Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) methods can work for Scope 3 projects in real conditions.

Training is another key focus. Verra is creating clear guidelines and support tools for project developers. This will help users understand the system quickly and scale their projects without delays.

Finally, the new timeline helps align the program with major global frameworks. These include updated climate standards and carbon accounting rules. This alignment will make the program more relevant and widely accepted.

How the Scope 3 Standard Will Transform Supply Chain Emissions

Scope 3 emissions are the biggest part of a company’s carbon footprint. In many sectors, they make up more than 75% of total emissions. These emissions do not come from a company’s own operations. Instead, they come from its supply chain—both before and after production.

Verra’s S3S Program aims to fix this problem in the following ways:

• It brings a clear and trusted system to measure and manage these emissions.
• Companies will be able to track real emission cuts and carbon removals in their value chains.

Explaining further, the program uses a strong measurement system. Companies will follow simple and consistent methods to calculate emissions. Then, independent auditors will check the data. This step builds trust and ensures the results are real.

New Carbon Units for Clear Tracking

Verra also introduces a new unit system. Project developers will receive Intervention Units (IUs). Companies will receive Scope 3 Intervention Units (S3IUs). These units will be recorded in a public registry. This makes tracking easy and avoids double-counting.

Co-Investment Drives Supply Chain Action

Another key feature is co-investment. Companies can invest in projects within their supply chains. In return, they can claim verified climate benefits. This system encourages suppliers, buyers, and investors to work together.

• LATEST: The Power of Plastic Credits: How Verra’s Waste Reduction Program Can End Global Plastic Pollution 

Understanding the Scale of Scope 3 Emissions

Unlike Scope 1 and 2, Scope 3 emissions cover the full value chain. They include both upstream and downstream activities.

Upstream emissions come from things a company buys. This includes raw materials, equipment, and transport. Downstream emissions happen after a product is sold. These include product use, delivery, and disposal.

The Greenhouse Gas Protocol lists more than 15 categories under Scope 3. These include goods, travel, waste, and investments. However, not every category applies to every business.

For example, a service company may have fewer downstream emissions. In contrast, a manufacturing company may see large emissions from product use and supply chains.

Closing the Gap in Carbon Markets

Many companies want to cut Scope 3 emissions. But they face a big challenge. There are no simple and clear rules to follow. Because of this, companies often feel unsure. They do not know how to measure emissions or report results correctly. This slows down investment in supply chain projects.

As explained before, Verra’s S3S Program offers clear rules and a strong system, and also uses third-party checks and transparent tracking. As a result, companies can now invest in projects and trust the results. Finally, the outcome will be more money inflow into supply chain climate solutions.

The program also improves carbon markets. Until now, most systems have focused on standalone projects. But S3S connects emission cuts directly to company supply chains. This creates a more complete and practical approach.

Aligned With Global Climate Standards

Another strong point of the S3S Program is its global alignment. Verra designed it to match major climate frameworks.

• It works alongside the Greenhouse Gas Protocol’s new standards. It also aligns with the updated net-zero rules from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
• In addition, it connects with new frameworks from the AIM Platform and the Taskforce for Corporate Action Transparency (TCAT).
• Most importantly, it aligns with Verra’s Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) version 5, released in December 2025.

This version improves the quality and trust in carbon credits. By linking with VCS 5, the S3S Program builds on a strong and proven system.

From Pilot Phase to Real-World Action

In 2025, Verra moved the program from planning to testing. It launched pilot projects and asked for public feedback.

These pilots were very useful. They showed what works and what needs improvement. They also helped adapt existing methods for real-world use. At the same time, it built the program’s structure. It set up rules, governance, and funding systems.

Verra is working with partners like the Value Change Initiative and SustainCERT. These groups help improve the program and keep it aligned with global best practices.

A Turning Point for Corporate Climate Action

Companies today face strong pressure to cut emissions. Scope 3 is the hardest part to manage, but also the most important.

Verra’s S3S Program offers a clear solution. It gives companies a simple and trusted way to act on supply chain emissions. By standardizing how emissions are measured and reported, the program makes climate action easier. It also opens new doors for investment and collaboration.

In the bigger picture, this program can support global climate goals. It helps reduce emissions at scale and strengthens trust in carbon markets.

With its 2026 launch coming soon, Verra’s Scope 3 Standard could become a key tool for companies worldwide—turning climate goals into real, measurable results.

• ALSO READ: Tackling Scope 3 Emissions with AI: A Smarter Path to Net Zero

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