Nuclear Weapons & Climate Change

International Day Against Nuclear Tests commemorative event

Thursday, September 9, 2021 | Central Hall Westminster, UK and Online

An intergenerational dialogue on nuclear weapons and climate change – two existential threats to humanity.

The event included students and youth leaders in dialogue with legislators (parliamentarians), policy/academic experts, members of the diplomatic community, representatives of civil society organizations and others.

It was a hybrid event with some speakers and invited guests participating in person at the event hub, while others participated online.  The event hub was in the historic Central Hall Westminster in London, which was the venue for the very first United Nations General 


Program


Opening Session:

  • Moderator: Professor Dan PleschDirector, Centre for International Studies and Diplomacy at SOAS University. Founder and Director, Strategic Concept for the Removal of Arms Proliferation – SCRAP (in-person)
  • Welcome message: Mukhtar TileuberdiDeputy Prime Minister – Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan (video)
  • Introductory comments: Alkey MargulanulyDeputy Executive Director, Nursultan Nazarbayev Foundation (video)
  • Opening presentation: Lord Hannay of ChiswickCo-Chair of the UK All Party Parliamentary Group on Global Security and Non-proliferation  (in person)
Panel Sessions: 

Moderator: Vanda ProskovaCo-convenor, Youth Fusion. Vice-Chair, PragueVision Institute for Sustainable Security (online)

Panel 1: Short and Long Term Environmental Impacts of Nuclear Weapons Testing & Use

  • Olzhas Omaruly SuleimenovPoet. C0-founder, Nevada-Semipalatinsk MovementKazakhstan Ambassador to UNESCO. (video)
  • Moetai Brotherson MPMember of the National Assembly of France. Member of the French Polynesian Assembly (in person)
  • Aigerim Seitenova, Head of Programmes, ‘Wings of Liberty’ Public Foundation. Mmember of OSCE Core Group of Youth Experts (in person)

Panel 2: Nuclear War and Climate Change: Nuclear Winter, Famine, Darkness

  • Professor Andreas Nidecker MDRadiologist. Board Member, Physicians for Social Responsibility IPPNW SwitzerlandPresident, Basel Peace Office (online)
  • Marie Claire GrafVice-President, Swiss Youth for Climate. Global North Focal Point for YOUNGO, the Children and Youth constituency to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (online)

Video message: Dr Robert FloydExecutive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization

Panel 3: Move the Nuclear Weapons Money:     

  • Dr Philip Webber, Chair, Scientists for Global Responsibility (online)
  • Kehkashan BasuFounder and CEO, The Green Hope Foundation. Member, World Future Council. Winner, 2016 Children’s International Peace Prize. Winner,  Inaugural Voices Youth Gorbachev-Shultz Legacy Award for Nuclear Disarmament (online)

Panel 4: The Nuclear-Climate Nexus, International Law and Civil Society Action

  • Rob van RietLawyer, Senior advisor to PNND and the World Future Council (in person)
  • Nicole Ann PonceYoung lawyer. Member, World’s Youth for Climate Action. Co-Founder and Coordinator, I am Climate Justice movement. Research Fellow, Normandy Chair for Peace (online)

Open discussion:
Moderator: Professor Dan Plesch, Director,Centre for International Studies and Diplomacy at SOAS University. Founder and Director, Strategic Concept for the Removal of Arms Proliferation – SCRAP (in-person)

Closing remarks:

  • Alyn WareMember, World Future Council. Global Coordinator, Parliamentarians for Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament. International Representative, Aotearoa Lawyers for Peace

Closing remarks:

  • HE Mr Erlan IdrissovKazakhstan Ambassador to the UK (in person)

For more information about the speakers see the event booklet.