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Arctic Nuclear Weapon Free Zone A step towards a Nuclear Weapons Convention

TOWARDS AN ARCTIC NUCLEAR WEAPON FREE ZONEEric Fawcett Forum 2010 (by Canadian Pugwash and Science for Peace)

November 13, 14, 2010Canadian Forces College

Toronto, Canada __________________________

Presented by Adele BuckleyArctic Security Committee, Canadian Pugwash

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What is a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone?Principles that the United Nations* has set for NWFZs Non-possession Non-deployment Non-manufacture, including delivery systems Non-use of Nuclear Weapons NWFZ treaty - verifiable and of unlimited duration 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 - 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 Zone

Treaty Date

Ratification Protocols by Nuclear Weapon States (from UN 1st Committee Oct/Nov 2010)

Antarctica 1959 1961 ALL

Tlatelolco Treaty Latin America & the Caribbean

1967 1969 ALL. Consolidation resolution adopted in 2010

Treaty of Rarotonga South Pacific

1985 1986 U.S. to pursue ratification

Bangkok Treaty Southeast Asia

1995 1997 U.S. to conduct consultations in an effort to sign and ratify

Pelindaba Treaty Africa

1996 2009 Ratified by UK, France. U.S. to pursue ratification. Egypt refrains. India conveys unambiguous assurance that it will respect the treaty

Semipalatinsk Treaty Central Asia

2006 2009 U.S. UK, France decline since NW treaty oblig’n would not be affected by the NWFZ zone

Mongolia 2000 2000 Affirming resolution , 2010

Number of Countries 116

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Benefits to the broader goals of Arms Control and Disarmament Planning and negotiating for a NWFZ is a

confidence building measure. It complements the efforts of governments and civil society groups who are working on other facets of arms control and disarmament.

A nuclear free zone is a step toward a nuclear weapons convention

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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.

The above declaration is annexed as information pertaining to this presentation

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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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NWFZs are becoming more prominent as part of overall Arms Control UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, in his 5-

Point Proposal on Nuclear Disarmament, and at the NPT Review, 2010, has endorsed the NWFZ as a confidence building measure

Ban Ki-Moon supports a Nuclear Weapons Convention (NWC)

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NWFZ – a contribution to a Nuclear Weapons Convention, not a distraction Builds confidence; builds a global norm Builds a culture of peace There is a “thinning out” of nuclear weapons

along the border of a region Sharpens the focus of regional collaboration

against nuclear weapons; enables participation in international efforts against nuclear weapons;

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United Nations First Committeemeeting Oct 11 – Nov 2, 2010A 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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Important regions for new NWFZs Northeast Asia Middle East

–the 2010 NPT Review Conference agreed to meet to consider a Middle East NWFZ in 2012; per the resolution of the 1995 NPT Review Conference

Central Europe The Arctic IAEA official (Oct 18, UN 1st Committee)

offers the assistance of the agency in creating new NWFZ, when requested

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

TODAY’S SITUATION IN THE CANADIAN ARCTIC

Mackenzie River, NWT Iqualuit, Nunavut

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Climate Change <<->> Polar Ice Melts & Arctic climate affects the global climate

A major adaptation is needed in the way of life for Arctic indigenous peoples

There will be environmental refugees from coastal regions; requiring adaptation from a culture of the sea to a culture of the land

Traditional knowledge, gained over 100s/1000s of years about land, water, snow, marine conditions, wildlife must be valued and utilized

Youth must be educated to full participation in the new frontier; must be capable of employment in senior technical and management positions

Strategies and policies of adaptation must be jointly developed by Arctic peoples and their governments. Sustainability and environmental protection must be paramount

Increased military presence is certain, and in some instances could overlap with territorial jurisdiction of indigenous peoples

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International law (UNCLOS) will resolve sovereignty claims on continental shelveswww.dur.ac.uk/ibru/resources/arctic

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Circumpolar nations add new military hardwareClockwise: Russia – submarine; Russia – surface warship; Norway – armed Arctic patrol vessel; Norway – 4 ice capable vessels of this class ; Norway – armed Arctic patrol vessel [Rob Huebert, Univ. of Calgary – Arctic Security Challenges & Issues- Ottawa, 01/28/10]

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Ice capable conflict and surveillance vesselsClockwise: Sweden/Finland- Arctic exercise 2009; Canada-Northern exercises; Canada – Arctic Offshore patrol vessel; Denmark –armed, ice capable inspection vessel [Rob Huebert]

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General Arrangements – Upper Deck

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Avoid militarization for support of territorial claims – instead, collaborate Needed – multilateral collaboration- for example: Search and rescue Environmental problems, e.g. oil spill Suppression of particulate matter

[exacerbates absorption of sunlight, and increased warming]

Surveillance of shipping lanes Fisheries regulation_______________________________________________________

Check our report-“Ridding the Arctic of Nuclear Weapons

A Task Long Overdue”

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Northern Strategy for Canada Canadian government officials say:“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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International Collaboration TOOLS for GOVERNANCE Arctic Council: Its mandate must enlarge, including security, &

still retaining decision making only for circumpolar nations and peoples

A Scientific Committee on Arctic Research (as in the Antarctic) UNCLOS1 rules on ocean area sovereignty, based data about

the seabed Economic resources: sufficient funding must be allocated by

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

Agreements: regional, national, pan-Arctic, bilateral, multilateral, international. The idea of Arctic NWFZ to be introduced conceptually

1 UNCLOS United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea

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The Arctic Council today

The Arctic Council is an intergovernmental circumpolar forum to collaborate on Arctic issues generally Environmental protection and sustainable development

Circumpolar nations are the members and indigenous peoples are permanent participants

Other participants Observers: several countries NGOs: an extensive list

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ARCTIC GOVERNANCE PLAN International collaboration

Avoid militarization of the Arctic International treaties covering many issues relevant to

the Arctic: negotiation in the near term Settle sovereignty claims Support adaptation Expand science research Develop new technology for this new frontier Develop new means of governance

Set a global example for innovations in governance

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 The current level of military threat is low

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MEET THE CHALLENGES start the Arctic NWFZ treaty negotiations Nations must proceed with urgency; there is need for

comprehensive assistance to the Arctic peoples – indigenous and non-indigenous – for preservation of the environment, security from conflict, and adaptation to climate change. Arctic peoples must be at the negotiating table NWFZ is in the background, for now.

Arctic peoples must be at the negotiating table Flexibility in negotiation is the key, since each nuclear weapon-

free 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.

The US and Russia might find that the challenges posed in the Arctic would be the catalyst to extend the already-agreed arms cuts in the New START treaty and to build co-operative security mechanisms that serve to replace nuclear deterrence and facilitate a global nuclear weapons free regime.

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Benefits to the broader goals of Arms Control and Disarmament Planning and negotiating for a NWFZ is a

confidence building measure. It complements the efforts of governments and civil society groups who are working on other facets of arms control and disarmament.

NWFZ helps to build co-operative security mechanisms that facilitate a global nuclear-weapon-free regime

“Only in a world verifiably free of nuclear weapons will there be no proliferation” – Jayantha Dhanapala at 2010 World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates, Hiroshima. 12-14 November, 2010

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Unique Benefits of an Arctic NWFZ to goals of Arms Control

and Disarmament An Arctic NWFZ treaty would create the controls that would greatly diminish or eliminate the possibility of terrorists transporting nuclear material or nuclear bombs by Arctic sea lanes.

An ANWFZ supports the Global Security Initiative for control of nuclear material, and nuclear waste, especially in the lands of the Russian Arctic

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Alternate pathways leading towards anArctic Nuclear Weapon Free Zone UN General Assembly resolution supported

by Arctic non-nuclear weapon states Nordic NWFZ Nordic and Canadian NWFZ

Entire countries, or just north of Arctic Circle? Land first, then sea, then air OR sea first, then

land, then air U.S. and Russia might find reductions in the

Arctic would be a useful way to continue the agreed arms cuts in the New START treaty

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What is the likely path for Canadians and the Government of Canada? Civil society groups, educators, and individual

citizens press for ANWFZ, part of support [at last] for a “northern vision”

Canadian government could assume an international leadership role for an Arctic NWFZ, as concrete evidence of its stated policy of support for nuclear disarmament

OF NOTE: (1) NNWS in the Arctic, including Canada, have already fulfilled important criteria AND

(2) Membership in NATO need not be a hindrance to formation; other NWFZ nations are also in nuclear alliances

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Canadian Pugwash Campaign Goal Keep the ANWFZ proposal at the forefront in

interaction with all nuclear and Arctic non-nuclear 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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The Canadian Pugwash Statement: Protect the Arctic with an Arctic Nuclear Weapon Free Zone Preamble – the situation Main challenges Meeting the challenges Policy/ action for the Arctic Nuclear

Weapons States (NWS) Policy/action for Arctic NNWS

Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden

Action for Civil Society

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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 Senator Roméo Dallaire: Parliament of Canada Several members of the Parliament of Denmark Interaction Council (former Prime Ministers and

world leaders) – meeting of April 2010 Walter & Duncan Gordon Foundation (Canada) World Future Council (United Kingdom) Physicians for Global Survival (Canada) Nordic Council –Nordic NWFZ proposal submitted Soon - PNND, Canada – motion in House of Commons

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Start of a “TO-DO” List

Civil society groups and individuals can and should visit their MPs and write to the Government of Canada in support of Arctic NWFZ

[as recommended by Donald Sinclair, DG, and Yves Brodeur, ADM, International Security Branch, DFAIT - personal communication to A. Buckley]

[from Senator Hugh Segal’s motion in the Senate, passed on June 2, 2010] “…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”

Arctic circumpolar nations should present a resolution to the United Nations General Assembly , 2011, in support of a NWFZ for the Arctic [recommendation of Jayantha Dhanapala, President, Pugwash Conferences]

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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 Antonius Dallaire, Senate of Canada

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Contact informationCanadian Pugwash Arctic Security WG Adele Buckley adele-buckley@rogers.com Michael Wallace michael.wallace@ubc.ca Steven Staples sstaples@rideauinstitute.ca Erika Simpson simpson@uwo.ca www.arcticnwfz.ca www.pugwashgroup.caSubscribe to: Arctic NWFZ (arctic-nuclear-free@googlegroups.ca)

Arctic Security Group (arctic-security@googlegroups.com ) Report: Ridding the Arctic of Nuclear Weapons, A

Task Long Overdue

(M. Wallace & S. Staples)

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