Media release, 29 October 2024
 

Scientists for Global Responsibility (SGR) today called upon the UK government to stop lobbying against a UN resolution to carry out new research on the potential impacts should a nuclear war take place. The research would be the first UN study on this topic since the 1980s.

The resolution was proposed to the UN First Committee on 15 October by a diverse cross-regional group of 20 countries, led by Ireland and New Zealand. The intention is set up an international scientific study on the effects of nuclear war.

Since then, sources within the UN system have told SGR that UK officials have been lobbying against the resolution, and encouraging other NATO members to vote against it.

Dr Stuart Parkinson, Executive Director of SGR, said “The threat of nuclear war is currently as high as it has ever been. Academic research over past 20 years has updated earlier work, and pointed to the catastrophic impacts across the world should even a ‘limited’ nuclear war take place. Yet this research is virtually unknown among decision-makers around the world – let alone the wider public. It is essential this UN research study take place to help improve our collective understanding. So SGR was extremely disturbed when sources within the UN told us of this British government lobbying. We regard it as anti-science and call for it to stop immediately. The UK – and all other nations – should support the resolution.”

A vote on the resolution is expected on Friday 1 November.
 

Update (2/11/24)

The UN voted in favour of commissioning the new study by 144 votes to 3. The nations opposing were the UK, France, and Russia. See:
UN approves new study on effects of nuclear war
 

Notes

1. Scientists for Global Responsibility (SGR) is a UK-based organisation whose membership includes over 500 scientists and engineers. Our aim is promote science and technology which contributes to peace, social justice, and environmental sustainability. We carry out research, education, and advocacy work in support of this aim. SGR and its predecessor organisations have carried out research on the threats from nuclear weapons since the 1980s. Our Co-chair Dr Philip Webber  has written extensively on these issues over the period, including for a World Health Organisation study. SGR’s key research on this issue can be viewed at:
   https://www.sgr.org.uk/projects/nuclear-weapons-threat-main-outputs
2. The UN resolution can be downloaded via:
   https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com24/resolutions/L39.pdf
3. Key information about the UN resolution:

• It would create a panel of 21 scientific experts to conduct a new UN-mandated study on the effects of nuclear war in order to generate comprehensive, up-to-date findings on the impacts. This would be the first such UN study since 1989.
• The panel would be charged with “examining the physical effects and societal consequences of a nuclear war on a local, regional and planetary scale, including inter alia the climatic, environmental and radiological effects, and their impacts on public health, global socio-economic systems, agriculture and ecosystems, in the days-weeks-decades following nuclear war, and that it reviews and commissions relevant studies, including modelling where appropriate, and publishes a comprehensive report, makes key conclusions, and identifies areas requiring future research”.   
• It responds to a recent call from scientists from around the world to study the growing threat of nuclear war and communicate the scientific evidence base, including the UK Royal Society as part of the April 2024 joint statement by the G7 National Academies:
  https://royalsociety.org/-/media/about-us/international/g-science-statements/2024-nuclear-arms-control.pdf
   

[image credit: Gerd Altmann]