Media release, 7 July 2017
 

Scientists for Global Responsibility (SGR) warmly welcomes the adoption today of a new UN treaty banning nuclear weapons.

The ‘Treaty to Prohibit Nuclear Weapons’ was agreed by 122 nations in New York. Since biological and chemical weapons have been banned for over 20 years, this treaty represents an important step in outlawing the most dangerous of all weapons of mass destruction, recognising that nuclear detonations, whether by accident or intention, would cause even greater catastrophic humanitarian consequences. The treaty prohibits nations from developing, testing, producing, manufacturing, acquiring, possessing, stockpiling, transferring, deploying, stationing, using or threatening to use nuclear weapons, under any circumstances.

Much evidence has been gathered, including by SGR, on the immense and indiscriminate suffering that nuclear weapons would cause should they ever be used again in war. This evidence also covers global and long-lasting impacts. Such evidence has been essential in helping to build support for this treaty among so many governments.

Unfortunately, the UK, along with many of the other nuclear weapons nations, are opposing this treaty, despite 75% public support for the UK to take part and despite government claims to support multilateral disarmament and a world without nuclear weapons.

Dr Philip Webber, Chair of SGR, said “Far from keeping us secure, thousands of nuclear weapons put us all at risk every day. SGR therefore calls on the UK government to follow through on its stated commitment to multilateral nuclear disarmament by signing this treaty.”
 

Contact: Dr Philip Webber: 07929 827322

Notes

1. The text of the UN ‘Treaty to Prohibit Nuclear Weapons’ can be downloaded from: https://www.un.org/disarmament/ptnw/index.html
2. Scientists for Global Responsibility (SGR) is an independent UK membership organisation of about 750 natural scientists, social scientists, engineers, and other professionals in related areas. It was formed in 1992. SGR’s work is focused on a range of issues, including security and disarmament, climate change, sustainable energy, and who controls science and technology? For more information, see /
3. SGR’s work on nuclear weapons can be found at:
   /projects/nuclear-weapons-threat-main-outputs
4. Opinion poll data on support for the nuclear ban treaty can be found here: http://home.bt.com/news/uk-news/75-think-uk-should-attend-nuclear-disarmament-talks-at-un-poll-shows-11364166211350