UNITED NATIONS, Geneva, May 17th 2011 - Mayors for Peace warns diplomats about the catastrophic climatological and humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons, according to latest scientific evidence, during a one-day seminar in Geneva.
On 17 May, Mayors for Peace hosted a seminar entitled “Ecological and Humanitarian Consequences of Nuclear Warfare” in Geneva, Switzerland, for government delegates to the UN’s Conference on Disarmament.
Presentations by leading scientists highlighted the alarming evidence for catastrophic consequences of even limited nuclear warfare on the climate, food production, human nutrition, and global security. Discussion emphasised the need for research to further elaborate the extent of such catastrophes and for increased awareness among governmental officials and the general public.
In a first panel, leading scientists Prof. Alan Robock (Distinguished Professor, Rutgers University), Dr. Christopher Hoyle (Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, ETH), and Dr. Ira Helfand (North American Vice President of IPPNW) addressed diplomats and NGO representatives on the effects of nuclear warfare on catastrophic climate. Mr. Étienne Lézat attended the event in representation of the City of Geneva, as did representatives of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs.
Prof. Robock and Dr. Hoyle showed that independently developed models predict very similar transformations of the climate, including rapidly decreased temperatures and damage to the ozone layer, due to the effects of smoke generated by nuclear firestorms. Historical examples from volcanic eruptions and incendiary bombings in the Second World War illustrate the effects sketched by the latest scientific models. Subsequently, Dr. Helfand illustrated the effects that such transformations would have in agriculture and, more generally, in food-chains, leading to famine and pandemics.
Ambassador Helmut Hoffmann (Germany) pointed out the importance of increasing awareness on these issues and seeking responsible media coverage to help shape public debates on disarmament policy.
In a second panel, chaired by Ambassador Juan José Gómez Camacho (Mexico), Aaron Tovish (Mayors for Peace) and Prof. Jürgen Scheffran (University of Hamburg/Nuclear Age Peace Foundation) discussed the implications of this evidence for security policy and disarmament.
Aaron Tovish challenged the notion that nuclear deterrence policies can provide security for any nation: given the global effects of nuclear warfare between any two nuclear armed states threaten all state regardless of whether those states possess nuclear weapons and thus a ‘deterrent’. Furthermore, he argued that the realisation of this imminent insecurity by civil society within nuclear-armed states could lead to a major change of policies towards global nuclear disarmament.
Prof. Scheffran further explored the issue-linkages between nuclear and environmental security challenges and argued in favour of comprehensive approach as the basis for policy leading to a “sustainable peace”.
During the discussion, Ambassador Gómez Camacho challenged participants to consider whether this evidence is enough evidence to override any alternative arguments and security concerns made by possessors of nuclear weapons and, consequently, how to best act upon this evidence. Ambassador Gómez Camacho further questioned why there has been a very limited social mobilisation around the issue of nuclear weapons.
In this regard, Aaron Tovish pointed out at the impressive growth of Mayors for Peace in recent days. He argued that while individual citizens might find it hard to see themselves as having an impact on nuclear policy; mayors, on the other hand, find themselves in a privileged position to understand the catastrophic impact of nuclear war to the welfare of their cities and citizens and to speak up on this issue. He indicated that grassroots movements, working together along mayors, would be in a better position to attract media attention.
Finally, Aaron Tovish questioned the reliance on nuclear weapons on the basis of “national security” concerns and urged countries to challenge to conventional wisdom that greater security for some can be achieved at the cost of exposing a majority of non-nuclear weapon states to the threat posed by nuclear weapons.
The Mayors for Peace 2020 Vision Campaign is grateful for the financial support from the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs for the organisation of this seminar and the production of an forthcoming publication.
« back
