UN Approves Fresh Study on Effects of a Nuclear War: First Time since 1989

[Sukla Sen]

That's a very positive development brought about by the persistent campaigns by the abolitionists in general and the ICAN in particular.

The apocalyptic effects of a nuclear war are of course already very well known. Nonetheless the findings of a fresh study sponsored by the UN itself -- the first since 1989 -- cannot but further strengthen the voices on the side of peace and complete abolition of all nuclear weapons.

In the vote at the First Committee on International Peace and Security of the UN General Assembly, of the 5 permanent UNSC states only China voted in favour. The US abstained. 3 countries, viz. France, UK and Russia said NO. Rest all nuclear armed states, including India and Pakistan, abstained. 144 member countries voted in favour.

This is the complete list of the abstainees: Albania, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Hungary, India, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Turkiyë, Ukraine, United States, Zambia.

In a related development, by a vote of 145 in favour to 6 against (China, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Iran, Nicaragua, Russian Federation, Syria), with 29 abstentions, the disarmament community approved a wide-ranging text on steps to building a common road map towards a world without nuclear weapons, which would have the General Assembly urge all States, especially the nuclear-weapon States, to ensure that nuclear weapons are never used again. (Ref.: <https://press.un.org/en/2024/gadis3754.doc.htm>.)

<<The vote on the resolution was not unanimous. Some of the nuclear-armed states and their allies actively lobbied against this study, possibly out of concern that more knowledge on what these weapons of mass destruction do would further erode any citizens’ support for having nuclear weapons. Only France, the Russian Federation and the United Kingdom voted against the resolution. However, the vast majority of states (144) – ranging from those that lead on disarmament and have been impacted by nuclear weapons testing in previous decades to those whose policies support the use of nuclear weapons – chose to commission this critical study. 

...

The 21 panel members will be appointed by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, and have been tasked to “engage and receive inputs from the widest possible range of stakeholders, including civil society, affected communities, and peoples from around the world” to truly understand the effects of a nuclear war at different scales (global, regional, individual).  It will receive the support and expertise of all UN agencies and international organisations. 

Having passed the First Committee, the resolution will pass to the Fifth Committee for a review of its budgetary implications and be submitted again to the full UN General Assembly in December. Once the panel is appointed, work will be carried out during 2025 and 2026 with a final report expected in 2027. 

Such a comprehensive study on the physical effects and societal consequences of a nuclear war will be central to raising public awareness and mobilising public opinion in efforts to eliminate nuclear weapons.>>

<https://www.icanw.org/un_approves_new_study_on_effects_of_nuclear_war>