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Arctic Nuclear Weapon Free Zone

Now is the time to begin

Adele BuckleyCanadian Pugwash www.pugwashgroup.ca 59th Pugwash Conference on Science and World AffairsBerlin, 2011

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The Arctic Overlap of the two great security threats of the 21st century – CLIMATE CHANGE & NUCLEAR WEAPONS

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Civilization-threatening problems

Climate Change & Nuclear Weapons Exceptional opportunities created for conflict or

cooperation The climate-change-induced “meltdown” of the

Arctic Great upheavals in the way-of-life, business and

international governance of the Arctic A window of opportunity to begin steps toward a

NUCLEAR FREE ARCTIC

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Climate Change <<->> Polar Ice Melts & Arctic climate affects the global climate The current risk of conflict is low; the global

future is potentially turbulent – conflict is possible – now is the time to begin to negotiate a nuclear free Arctic

In the ‘new’ Arctic: Many national, bilateral, multilateral agreements must be made; now is the time to gain acceptance for a future nuclear free Arctic

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THE UNITED NATIONS & Nuclear-Weapon-Free

Zones

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United Nations Sec. Gen. Ban Ki-moon’s

5-Point Proposal on Nuclear Disarmament1. Pursue negotiations in good faith – as required by the NPT – on

nuclear disarmament, *either through a new nuclear-weapons convention or through a framework of mutually reinforcing instruments backed by a credible system of verification.

2. ……3. Ensure that disarmament is rooted in legal obligations through

universal membership in multilateral treaties, *regional nuclear-weapon-free zones, a new treaty on fissile materials, and ratification and entry into force of the comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty.

4…...5. ……

http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2008/sgsm11881.doc.htm

* [emphasis added]

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Principles that the United Nations* has set for Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones Non-possession Non-deployment Non-manufacture, including delivery systems Non-use of Nuclear Weapons The decision to create a NWFZ should be initiated within

the region and arrived at freely by the states that make up the region

NWFZ treaty - verifiable and of unlimited duration NWFZ treaty - Nuclear weapon states have to be

involved so they will (subsequently) ratify protocols that recognize the treaty and offer negative security assurances

* UNGA 1975

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Nuclear Weapon Free Zones, [Treaty, Ratification by zonal states , Protocols by all NW states]

Antarctica [1959, 1961, all] Tlatelolco [1967, 1969, all] Rarotonga* [1985,1986] Bangkok* [1995, 1997] Pelindaba* [1996,2009] Semipalatinsk [2006,2009] Mongolia, [2000,2000,all]

* Consultations with NWS ongoing

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The United Nations: a very important actor in NWFZ creation Article VII of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty

(NPT) and numerous UN resolutions affirm the right of states to establish NWFZ’s in their territories

The 2010 NPT Review Conference received the Declaration and recommendations for the Second Conference of States Parties and Signatories of Treaties that Establish NWFZs and Mongolia (April 30, 2010). This included the recommendations of the Civil Society Forum, United Nations April 29, 2010.

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United Nations First Committeemeeting Oct 11 – Nov 2, 2010

A full range of nuclear disarmament topics was considered. On Nuclear Weapon Free Zones, the final report (www.reachingcriticalwill.org/) summarizes:

“The 2010 meetings….continued to highlight NWFZs as an essential element of the nuclear disarmament regime. The momentum behind establishing NWFZs ……was palpable in the First Committee.”

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Conclusion

There is evidence that NWFZs are becoming more prominent as part of overall Arms Control

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ARCTIC NUCLEAR WEAPON FREE ZONE

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Historical perspective on Arctic NWFZ First proposal for the Arctic -1964- published

in the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, by two scientists – one Russian, one American

Indigenous groups, including the Inuit Circumpolar Conference -from 1974- pressed the case for a nuclear-weapon-free Arctic

Gorbachev proposed an “Arctic zone of peace” 1987 [not including the Arctic Ocean]

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TOOLS FOR GOVERNANCE

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Circumpolar nations: * Ice-capable conflict and surveillance vessels Russia, Norway, Norway, Denmark, Canada, Canada, Sweden/Finland, Norway [clockwise]*[Rob Huebert, Univ. of Calgary, Arctic Security Challenges and Issues, Ottawa 01/28/10]

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General Arrangements – Upper Deck

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Needed – multilateral collaboration EXAMPLESTREATY AGREEMENTSSearch & Rescue Agreement, May 2011 – 8 circumpolar countries: Arctic

to have search & rescue areas , coordinated multilateral management, retaining legal responsibility of each nation for its own territory

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POP) Treaty, 2001UNDER DISCUSSION Environmental problems, e.g. oil spill Suppression of particulate matter

[exacerbates absorption of sunlight, and increased warming]

Regulation and surveillance of shipping lanes Fisheries regulation

>>>shows intent to avoid militarization_______________________________________________________

GOVERNANCEThe governance development in the Arctic is not militarization but

regulation – and the implementation of the latter depends on logistics support from the Canadian Forces

[report on remarks by (Canadian )Brigadier-General John Collin, Nov. 9, 2010]

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Arctic Council: now & future The Arctic Council is an intergovernmental

circumpolar forum collaborating on Arctic environmental protection and sustainable

development In addition to circumpolar nations as members:

Indigenous peoples are permanent participants Observers from 6 countries; and many NGOs

PAST – 1988, an Arctic arms control conference was convened in Canada, leading to formation of the Arctic Council in 1996, with Canada as the first chair. U.S. joined on condition that “security” was out

FUTURE - strengthen Arctic Council; add peace and security to its mandate; restore Ambassadors

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International Collaboration TOOLS for GOVERNANCE Arctic Council: Its mandate must enlarge, including security A Scientific Committee on Arctic Research (as in the Antarctic) UNCLOS rules on ocean area sovereignty, using seabed data Economic strategies: sufficient funding must be allocated by

governments; multinationals that benefit from Arctic resources or transpolar shipping must directly contribute funds

Agreements / Treaties: regional, national, pan-Arctic, bilateral, multilateral, international. The idea of Arctic NWFZ to be accepted, starting now

Develop new means of governance Set a global example for innovations in

governance

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SETTING OUT ON THE PATH TO AN

ARCTIC NUCLEAR-WEAPON-FREE-

ZONE

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THE MAIN CHALLENGES

Many circumpolar nations are part of NATO, a nuclear alliance. Arctic nations U.S. and Russia are nuclear weapon states Security policy: planning of the Arctic

circumpolar states does not, to date, include an Arctic NWFZ

BUT Membership in NATO need not be a hindrance to formation; other NWFZ nations (e.g. Australia) are also in nuclear alliances

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Nuclear-armed submarines – a nuclear deterrence strategy dating from the Cold War[Michael Wallace, Canadian Pugwash/Science for Peace Forum, November, 2010]

US and RF attack submarines no longer carry NW (1991 agmt)

SSBN subs rely on stealth; BUT NOTE rapidly diminishing usefulness of ice-free Arctic areas; few patrol missions recently; now there are serious ingress & egress problems

The Russian Northern Fleet, particularly the SSBN class, is likely to have its main future in the Pacific; Chinese SSBN fleet will rival size of Russian fleet by 2020. Arctic NWFZ could hasten removal of Russian submarines from the Arctic

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MEET THE CHALLENGES start the Arctic NWFZ treaty negotiations now Flexibility in negotiation is the key, since each zone is

specific to the geography and politics of the participating sovereign states For example: rules for transit of nuclear weapons vary from zone to zone

There is need for comprehensive assistance to the Arctic peoples – indigenous and non-indigenous – for preservation of the environment, adaptation to climate change, security from conflict,. NWFZ has to be present [but in the background, for now.]

Arctic peoples must be at the negotiating table. NNWS in the Arctic have already fulfilled important

criteria for NWFZ

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Choices for starting pathways leading towards an Arctic NWFZ Single state enacts its own legislation for NWFZ, or One or more NNWS act together: NWFZ for one or more of:

Land north of Arctic Circle Entire land and sea territory, for or more NNWS Surface waters of some countries acting together Territorial waters, including sub-surface

Submarines could be allowed “innocent transit”, but not patrol Air space

UN First Committee gathers support, then UN General Assembly resolution is introduced by Arctic non-nuclear weapon states

Later, U.S. and Russia, observing the regional and global pressure, might accept elimination of patrolling by SSBN class submarines in the Arctic and join the Arctic NWFZ

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Arctic NWFZ should be on the agenda of all

circumpolar nations [Canada, Denmark (Greenland),

Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland] POTENTIAL CHAMPIONS Government of Canada Governments of circumpolar nations Arctic Council Nordic Council Civil society PNND (Canada) and PNND international United Nations First Committee [leading to

widely supported resolution at UNGA]

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SUPPORTERS OF AN ARCTIC NUCLEAR- WEAPON-FREE ZONE

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Support for an Arctic NWFZ Leaders in international Pugwash

Circumpolar Pugwash groups:- Canada, Denmark, Norway, Sweden Amb. Jayantha Dhanapala:- President of Pugwash Conferences on Science and

World Affairs

Several members: Parliament of Canada Several members of the Parliament of Denmark Interaction Council (former Prime Ministers and world leaders)

– meetings of April 2010 and May 2011 Walter & Duncan Gordon Foundation (Canada) World Future Council (United Kingdom) Nordic Council –Nordic NWFZ proposal submitted Canadian peace groups CPG Statement: Protect the Arctic with an Arctic Nuclear Weapon Free Zone

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Arctic NWFZ Campaign

GOAL: Keep the Arctic NWFZ proposal at the forefront in interaction with Arctic NNWS and all NWS governments until such time as these governments are committed to carrying the process forward

Establishment of an Arctic Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone is a confidence building step toward a world free of nuclear weapons

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Connecting: ANWFZ as a support for a Nuclear Weapons Convention NWC NWC is an international, universal, legal ban of

nuclear weapons*, supported by credible verification; NWC is also effectively achieved by a framework of mutually reinforcing agreements

Arctic NWFZ creates a regional Nuclear Weapons Convention

Arctic NWFZ helps to build co-operative security mechanisms that facilitate a global nuclear-weapon-free regime >>> “lessons-learned” could be utilized

• *The Model NWC, 2007, sets 5 year periods; NW abolished by Year 15

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THE ACTION LIST

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ACTION:- for Civil Society groups, educators, indigenous groups, individuals Visit MPs and write to the Governments in support of Arctic NWFZ

Citizens must press Arctic circumpolar nations to present a resolution to the United Nations General Assembly in support of a NWFZ for the Arctic

In Canadian Parliament – Restore Arctic NWFZ initiatives [died when an election was called] MP Bill Siksay’s motion on Arctic nuclear-weapon-free zone MP Larry Bagnell’s private member’s bill on a Canadian NWFZ an

[from motions in the Canadian Senate and House of Commons, passed on June, 2010 and Dec,

2010]“ …encourage the Government of Canada … to engage in negotiations for a nuclear weapons convention

Throughout the circumpolar region, press governments to uphold a “northern vision” of peace

VOLUNTEER YOUR TIME TO THE ARCTIC NWFZ CAMPAIGN

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The last word

“ [Canada] ….. must take this issue very seriously. Creating an Arctic nuclear-weapon-free zone will be a long process. Now is the time to launch this initiative, while the Arctic is being shaped, because this opportunity will not exist for long.”

Hon. Roméo Dallaire, Senate of Canada

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Contact information Canadian Pugwash Arctic Security WGAdele Buckley adele-buckley@rogers.comwww.arcticnwfz.ca

www.pugwashgroup.ca Walter and Duncan Gordon Foundation www.wdgf.org gordonfn@gordonfn.org

Subscribe to: Arctic NWFZ discussion group (arctic-nuclear-weapon-free@googlegroups.com )

Report: Ridding the Arctic of Nuclear Weapons

A Task Long Overdue (M. Wallace & S. Staples)

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I N U I T   C I R C U M P O L A R   C O N F E R E N C E      Resolution on a Nuclear Free Zone in the Arctic  [adopted]

1983 ………….THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Inuit Circumpolar  Conference emphatically restates its nuclear position:  

1.  that the arctic and sub-arctic be used for purposes that are peaceful and environmentally safe;

2.  that there shall be no nuclear testing or nuclear devices in the arctic or sub-arctic;

3.  that there shall be no nuclear dump-sites in the arctic or sub-arctic;

4.  that exploration and exploitation of uranium, thorium, lithium or other materials related to the nuclear industry in our homeland be prohibited

…………….     

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Canadian Parliament’s position – at the start of 2011- supports a nuclear weapon convention June 2, 2010 [from Senator Hugh Segal’s motion in the Senate, passed unanimously] “…encourage the Government of Canada

to engage in negotiations for a nuclear weapons convention to deploy a major world-wide Canadian diplomatic initiative in

support of preventing nuclear proliferation and increasing the rate of nuclear disarmament”

December 7, 2010The House of Commons gave unanimous consent to a motion submitted by the Bill Siksay MP, Chair of the Canadian Section of Parliamentarians for Nuclear Nonproliferation and Disarmament (PNND), endorsing the United Nations Secretary-General’s Five-Point-Plan for nuclear disarmament and calling on the Government of Canada to “….engage in negotiations for a nuclear weapons convention as proposed by the UN Secretary-General”

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Northern Strategy for Canada Canadian government stance:“The current and foreseeable threats or challenges are not military; the objective is thus

to evolve a rules-based, regulated environment in order to best serve the development needs and interests of the people of the Arctic. There is movement toward a regulated environment that will meet the commercial and environmental challenges (and opportunities) that are growing, and in the process honour the interests and well-being of the North’s permanent residents.  ……………….

The governance development in the Arctic is not militarization but regulation – and the implementation of the latter depends on logistics support from the Canadian Forces”

Notes from Ernie Regehr on remarks by Brigadier-General John Collin, Nov. 9, 2010,forum "True North Strong and Free: Canada's Role in the Arctic" , CIGI, Waterloo, ON

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NWFZM/CONF.2010/1Second Conference of States Parties

and Signatories of Treaties thatEstablish Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones

and Mongolia5 May 2010

Original: English10-34972 (E) 070510

*1034972*New York, 30 April 2010

Outcome DocumentSecond Conference of Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones

and MongoliaNew York, 30 April 2010

On the occasion of the 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty onNon-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons we, the States parties and signatories to theTreaties of Tlatelolco (1967), Rarotonga (1985), Bangkok (1995), Pelindaba (1996)and Central Asia (2006) which have established nuclear-weapon-free zones, as wellas Mongolia — a nuclear-weapon-free State — have met for the purpose ofstrengthening the nuclear-weapon-free zones regimes and contributing to the nucleardisarmament and nuclear non-proliferation process, and in particular to analyseways of cooperating that can promote the achievement of the universal goal of anuclear-weapon-free world.Bearing this in mind:1. We reaffirm ………………

[APPENDIX]

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Annex NWFZM/CONF.2010/1 Declaration and recommendations for the Second Conference ofStates Parties and Signatories of Treaties that Establish Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones and Mongolia (30 April 2010),and the 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on theNon-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, adopted by the CivilSociety Forum for Nuclear Weapon Free Zones, held atUnited Nations, New York, on 29 April 2010

The citizens listed below, participants of the Civil Society Forum for NuclearWeapon Free Zones, held on 29 April 2010 at the United Nations in New York:1. Affirm the role that local, national and regional nuclear-weapon-freezones play in delegitimizing nuclear weapons, constraining nuclear proliferation,building cooperative security and paving the way for a nuclear-weapons-free world;2. Express their continued support for the nuclear-weapon-free zonesestablished in Antarctica, Latin America and the Caribbean, the Seabed, OuterSpace, the South Pacific, Africa, South-East Asia, Mongolia and Central Asia;3. Call upon all States, in particular the nuclear-weapon States, to fullyrespect existing nuclear-weapon-free zones, including to ratify the respectiveprotocols and remove reservations to current ratifications, in order to guarantee thezones remain free of nuclear weapons and the threat of their use;4. Support the exploration of possibilities for establishing nuclear-weapon-free

zones in the Middle East, North-East Asia, the Arctic and Central Europe, andcall upon Governments in these regions to undertake multilateral dialogue,deliberations and negotiations to establish such zones;

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ANNEX (Cont’d)

5. Commend States — including Austria, Mongolia and New Zealand —which have taken national legislative measures to prohibit nuclear weapons, andencourage other national legislatures to adopt similar measures;6. Believe that technical and financial resources dedicated to producing anddeploying nuclear weapons — including most of the $100 billion global nuclearweaponsbudget — should be converted for civilian purposes, including meetingUnited Nations Millennium Development Goals and combating climate change;7. Support actions, whether by Governments or private investors, to divestfrom corporations involved in the manufacture and deployment of nuclear weaponsand their delivery systems, and commend the Governments of New Zealand andNorway and cities that have undertaken such divestment actions;8. Commend the Governments in the regional nuclear-weapon-free zonesfor joining together in the inaugural Conference of States Parties and Signatories ofTreaties that Establish Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones, in Mexico in 2005 and again atthe United Nations in 2010, and encourage the States parties to enhance theircommunication and collaboration and to establish institutional arrangements tofacilitate this;9. Encourage States parties to nuclear-weapon-free zone treaties to expandtheir collaboration in strengthening existing nuclear-weapon-free zones, supportingthe establishment of additional zones, including single-State nuclear-weapon-freezones, and advancing the achievement of a nuclear-weapons-free world, andcommend the Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America andthe Caribbean for their leadership in this area;

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ANNEX (Cont’d)

10. Encourage States which host foreign nuclear weapons to exercise theirsovereign right to have such weapons withdrawn, enabling them to establish or joinnuclear-weapon-free zones;11. Commend United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for his five-pointplan for nuclear disarmament, which supports nuclear-weapon-free zones andproposes a number of other measures, including a call upon States parties to theTreaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons to undertake negotiations on anuclear-weapons convention or a package of agreements;12. Call on the 2010 Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear WeaponsReview Conference to agree to a preparatory process for a nuclear-weaponsconvention that would pave the way for negotiations while simultaneouslyadvancing technical, political and legal aspects such as verification, confidence buildingand diminishing the role of nuclear weapons;13. Note that, as work proceeds to negotiate new measures leading to nucleardisarmament in all its aspects, it is vital that already-agreed measures be broughtinto force and implemented. Thus, commend the nuclear-weapon-free-zone Stateson their leadership promoting entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty and developing its global verification system;14. Affirm the role of civil society in the establishment of local, national andregional nuclear-weapon-free zones, and in collaborating with Governments for theachievement of a nuclear-weapons-free world.