The Federation of American Scientists Urges Support of UN Draft Resolution on Nuclear War Effects
The last resolution producing similar scientific research was published in 1989
Washington, D.C. – October 24, 2024 – The Federation of American Scientists (FAS) announces its support for the UN General Assembly Draft Resolution on Nuclear War Effects and Scientific Research, announced August 20th, and calls for others to do the same. FAS believes the resolution is a necessary advancement of scientific understanding of the devastating consequences of a nuclear war.
“Whether people support or oppose nuclear weapons, they deserve to know what the consequences of nuclear use are. An independent fact-based expert study is the best way to do that. All member States, including the United States, can and should support this UN resolution,” says Hans Kristensen, Director of the Nuclear Information Project (NIP) at FAS. “FAS believes in the need for science to inform policy, which is why we call for support of this resolution.”
“The UN resolution is an important and timely measure for articulating the toll of nuclear weapons on humans and the environment,” says Eliana Johns, Senior Research Associate at FAS. “It also provides an opportunity to inject science into nuclear weapons policy deliberations so that policymakers, practitioners, and the public have access to updated and accurate data about nuclear weapons, their effects, and the destruction their use would entail.”
Scientific Report Last Updated in 1989
This resolution, introduced by Ireland and New Zealand, would create a scientific panel to conduct the first comprehensive study on the effects of nuclear war since 1989. With major advances in technology and scientific evidence bases, the independent panel of 21 scientific researchers will produce a more accurate and updated report reflecting current global trends.
It has been over 30 years since the last study on the climatic and other global effects of nuclear war was issued by the UN Secretary-General. Since then, globalization has greatly linked human populations; the global population has grown by 50%, and states’ nuclear arsenals have modernized and advanced. At a time when all nuclear weapons states are undergoing efforts to modernize their arsenals, a better technical understanding of how a nuclear war would impact humanity and the environment is vital to informing discussions on nuclear weapons policy and highlighting nuclear weapons effects on impacted communities.
FAS Nuclear Information Project
FAS is a non-partisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to deploying evidence-based policies to address global threats. From its founding by a group of atomic scientists and engineers involved in the Manhattan Project, FAS has worked for the public promotion of science, and the freedom and integrity of scientists and scientific research to benefit humanity. FAS is proud to support a scientific community that communicates the devastating effects of nuclear war on humans and the environment. In addition to ongoing research, published at the FAS website, the NIP team produces the semi-monthly Nuclear Notebook, published in academic journal Taylor and Francis as well as the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists’ website.
##
ABOUT FAS
The Federation of American Scientists (FAS) works to advance progress on a broad suite of contemporary issues where science, technology, and innovation policy can deliver dramatic progress and seeks to ensure that scientific and technical expertise have a seat at the policymaking table. Established in 1945 by scientists in response to the atomic bomb, FAS continues to work on behalf of a safer, more equitable, and more peaceful world. More information at fas.org, and more information about the Nuclear Information Project at https://fas.org/initiative/nuclear-information-project/.
The Department of Defense has finally released the 2024 version of the China Military Power Report.
With tensions and aggressive rhetoric on the rise, the next administration needs to prioritize and reaffirm the necessity of regular communication with China on military and nuclear weapons issues to reduce the risk of misunderstandings.
Congress should ensure that no amendments dictating the size of the ICBM force are included in future NDAAs.
In early November 2024, the United States released a report describing the fourth revision to its nuclear employment strategy since the end of the Cold War and the third since 2013.