Ministry Statements & Speeches:
Thank you Madam Chair,
I take the floor on behalf of Ireland and New Zealand to introduce draft resolution L.39, Nuclear War Effects and Scientific Research.
At a time of elevated risk of nuclear conflict, there is a clear need to publicly establish an accurate and up-to-date understanding of the impacts of a nuclear war.
It is with these objectives in mind that Ireland and New Zealand have proposed the convening by the UN Secretary-General of a new scientific panel of 21 experts to examine the effects of a nuclear war.
The last such UN-mandated study was undertaken in 1989. Since then, scientific progress has advanced markedly, including climatic and data modelling.
However, unlike in other areas, the UN has not produced a global, publicly-accessible view of the effects of nuclear war, based on empirical research since then.
We know that our societies and economies are increasingly interconnected. While studies of standalone aspects of nuclear war exist, we lack an updated, encompassing report – accessible to all states and their publics – that ties together the interconnected impacts that would result from a nuclear war.
Scientific bodies, including the G7 National Academies, are calling for this work to be undertaken as a matter of urgency. In our consultations in Geneva and in New York we also heard many delegations in this room reiterate that call.
As we set out during those consultations, and as now clearly articulated in the resolution’s text, it is proposed that the Panel will focus on the physical effects and societal consequences of a nuclear war, only.
We have worked closely with Member States to formulate this revised and focused version of the mandate.
We believe this approach respects the raison d’etre of the First Committee - to engage an open and transparent manner in honest, shared efforts to advance disarmament and disarmament education for the benefit of all.
In 1978, in the outcome document of SSOD-1, all states agreed that “in order that an international conscience may develop and that world public opinion may exercise a positive influence, the United Nations should increase the dissemination of information on the armaments race and disarmament with the full co-operation of Member States.”
This resolution responds to that consensus call, a call that still resonates.
Ireland and New Zealand thank those delegations that have cosponsored the text.
We think it is significant that a wide, cross-regional group has co-sponsored the resolution with an even wider group contributing to the drafting process, something that reflects the demand for the study.
In this respect, the resolution is deliberately treaty-agnostic– it is about the focusing on the science.
The study will deliver a stronger evidence base that will inform the world and contribute to constructive dialogue with a view to convergence in work on nuclear disarmament and arms control. It will also strengthen the nuclear taboo.
This is in all our interests.
Supporting this resolution will also show States’ commitment to the fundamental goals of disarmament.
We envisage L.39 as a one-time effort, which will deliver a final report to the First Committee in 2027.
We encourage all delegations to vote in favour of draft L.39.
Thank you, Chair.