Nuclear weapons are explosive devices that have a strong destructive force, which is why they are considered weapons of mass destruction. Their energy comes from splitting or joining particles in atoms, and it has the power to destroy entire cities and to release radiations for years that can cause sickness or illnesses that may eventually lead to death. Therefore, nuclear weapons have a devastating effect when they are used but also later on through radiations. Nuclear weapons have only been used twice in history during World War II, when the USA sent two atomic bombs against the Japanese cities of Hiroshima (on August 5, 1945) and Nagasaki (on August 9, 1945). The blast in Hiroshima caused the death of 80 000 people, the injury of 35 000, and the destruction of 62 000 buildings within a 2.5km radius.
The states that are nuclear weapon-designated are China, Russia, France, United Kingdom and the United States, which are also the 5 countries that are part of the UN Security Council. Other states that are said to have nuclear weapons are North Korea, India, Pakistan, and Israel (the latter’s position on the possession of such weapons is still unsure). The country that has the highest estimated nuclear warhead stockpile is Russia, with 7 000 warheads (this term refers to the number of explosive or toxic material under the form of missile, rocket or torpedo), followed by the USA (6 800 warheads) and France (300 warheads). The total number of nuclear weapons around the world is estimated at around 27 000. Besides the nine nuclear weapon countries, 26 others have accepted a “security guarantee” from the US in order to lend nuclear war machine if they experience security threats. For instance, Belgium, Germany, Turkey, Italy and the Netherlands are part of the NATO agreement, so they can have access to nuclear weapons. Moreover, there are uranium mines in 24 countries that supply nations with materials to make warheads, the largest provisioners being Canada, Australia and Namibia.
Nuclear weapons can be used for nuclear warfare, a military conflict involving nuclear weaponry to damage the enemy. As bombs of mass destruction are used in this type of war, it is much more dangerous and destructive than other conflicts, so a long-term damage can be inflicted in a short time. The two only nuclear weapons used during warfare were the ones in Japan, and a nuclear war has never occurred, but launching these two bombs has not only led to the death of numerous people, but to the implementation of new nuclear weapons from other countries and political tensions that cause the Cold War. This means that nuclear warfare would impact people’s lives in the city where it is dropped, but it would also affect the world due to the formation of pressure and hostility on an international scale. Moreover, the impact could be seen in the spread of nuclear terrorism and proliferation. In nuclear terrorism, an individual detonates a nuclear device that is either stolen or bought on the black market, built by terrorists and scientists, constructed by terrorists with acquired fissile materials or gotten from a state that possess nuclear weapons. A nuclear terrorist attack is an enormous security threat, and has the intent of: killing as many people as possible, damaging a building or environment, or informing a leader, an organization or the State that they do not agree on a formal decision they took. Instead, nuclear proliferation happens when nuclear weapons, fissionable material or nuclear technology and information are shared with nations that are not “Nuclear Weapon States” and that should not have access to them. This action is illegal since the creation of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, signed in 1968 and created by the United Nations in Geneva (this treaty is one of the most important documents of the Disarmament committee). According to the UN, the aim of this pact is “to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology, to promote cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and to further the goal of achieving nuclear disarmament and general and complete disarmament”. The respect of the treaty is achieved by regulations and policies made by the United Nations as well as an entity they created, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The IAEA is responsible for inspections to check the spread of nuclear weapons and for enhancing peaceful collaboration between countries and equal access to technology regarding nuclear energy. India, Pakistan and Israel never signed the Treaty of non-proliferation as they possess and know how to assemble nuclear weapons. However, by taking this decision, they are excluded by nuclear trading and have created tensions and hostility among them because they have disagreements but are afraid to start military conflicts because their opponent has nuclear weapons. North Korea signed the Treaty, but withdrew from it in 2003 in order to be able to produce nuclear weapons to safeguard – according to the North Korean government – the “country’s security and dignity”. Since then, they have carried out nuclear tests in 2006, 2009, 2013, 2016 and 2017, and are threatening to use their arms in case their nation was attacked.
In order to evaluate the importance of eliminating nuclear and weapons and to help every country determine their point of view on the issue, here is a table that outlines the main advantages and disadvantages of having nuclear weapons:
ACHEVING NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT
Nuclear disarmament – also called denuclearization – is reducing and eliminating all nuclear weapons in the world. The United Nations have an Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) that was created by the Secretary-General Kofi Annan in 1998, with the goal of eliminating nuclear proliferation and the disarmament in the areas of weapons of mass destruction (this includes nuclear weapons), chemical, and biological weapons, and the reduction of conventional weapons. The UN also established the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in 2017, which was approved by 122 countries. The only country that voted against this resolution was the Netherlands, and Singapore made an abstention. However, most of the countries that possess nuclear weapons did not vote, so their excluded from the resolution and still possess these weapons, but South Africa and Kazakhstan (that formerly possessed nuclear weapons) had to give them up voluntarily.
LINK TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
The main focus of the elimination of nuclear weapons is peace and security, so the achievement of the 16th Goal of the Sustainable Development Goals. However, nuclear tests also have an environmental impact, and banishing nuclear weapons would prevent such tests from being made again. Therefore, the environment would be further protected, and would ameliorate the fulfillment of Goal N°12 (Responsible Production and Consumption) through better energy efficiency, and Goal N°15 (Life on Land), as the environment and animals would not face diseases and death from radiation.
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