UN supports New Zealand’s proposal to study the consequences of nuclear war

New Zealand and Ireland have proposed creating a scientific group to study the consequences of nuclear war.
Photo: 123RF

New Zealand and Ireland have proposed creating a scientific group to study the consequences of nuclear war.

In a statement to the United Nations, Ireland’s permanent representative Fergal Mithen said the last UN-commissioned study was carried out in 1989.

Scientific progress has advanced significantly since then, including climate and data modeling, he said.

Mithen said the 21 experts on the panel will focus on the physical and societal consequences of nuclear war.

He believed the research would also help nuclear disarmament and arms control.

The comments were posted on the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade website.

The UN statement said the resolution was adopted by the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) 144-3, with France, Russia and Britain voting against it and 30 abstentions.

The Committee also adopted a draft resolution calling on States, “especially nuclear-weapon States, to commit to further identifying, studying and implementing effective measures necessary to mitigate the risks associated with the use of nuclear weapons that arise from miscalculations, misperceptions, , misunderstandings or accidents and, among other things, maintain the practice of not pointing nuclear weapons at each other and maintain them at the lowest possible level of alert.”

It passed by 145 votes to 6, with China, North Korea, Iran, Nicaragua, Russia and Syria voting against and 29 abstaining.

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