The IAEA works to uphold the safety and security of the world in regard to nuclear technology, working in the best interest of its member states. It works to distinguish between peaceful nuclear energy and nuclear activity for military purposes, and attempts to use its knowledge and capabilities to ensure the world’s safety. Ultimately, its goals include working to counter poverty, disease, and pollution by working with methods of sustainable energy.

The IAEA was founded in 1957, in an effort to abate the fears surrounding the uncertainty regarding nuclear technology. As more countries gained nuclear knowledge, it became clear that the IAEA was a necessary addition to the global community. Several events shed light upon this realization. The Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, the oil crisis in 1973, and the Chernobyl disaster in 1986 are all examples of the IAEA’s importance in the regulation and investigation of nuclear energy and its uses. The IAEA worked to differentiate between peaceful nuclear energy and military nuclear energy during the Cold War.