Action plan
The Global Zero plan
[1] for
the phased, verified elimination of all nuclear weapons is a
four-phased strategy to reach a global zero accord over 14 years
(2010–2023) and to complete the dismantlement of all remaining nuclear
warheads over the following seven years (2024–2030).
Phase 1 (2010–2013) Following conclusion of a
START replacement accord, negotiate a bilateral accord for the United States and Russia to reduce to 1,000 total warheads each.
Phase
2 (2014–2018) In a multilateral framework, the U.S. and Russia reach
agreement to reduce to 500 total warheads each (to be implemented by
2021) as long as all other nuclear weapons countries agree to freeze
their stockpiles until 2018, followed by proportional reductions until
2021. Establish a comprehensive verification and enforcement system, and
strengthen safeguards on the civilian nuclear fuel cycle to prevent
diversion of materials to build weapons.
Phase
3 (2019–2023) Negotiate a global zero accord, signed by all nuclear
capable countries, for the phased, verified, proportional reduction of
all nuclear arsenals to zero total warheads by 2030.
Phase
4 (2024–2030) Complete the phased, verified, proportional reduction of
all nuclear arsenals to zero total warheads by 2030 and continue the
verification and enforcement system.
In
releasing the plan, the Commission noted that over the past twenty
years (1989–2009), the United States and Russia retired and destroyed
twice as many nuclear warheads (40,000+) as this action plan proposes
(20,000+) over the next twenty years (2009–2030).
[edit]History
Global
Zero was launched in Paris in December 2008 by more than 100 political,
civic, and military leaders. There, they announced a framework plan for
the elimination of nuclear weapons, starting with deep reductions to
the U.S. and Russian arsenals.
[2] Global Zero gave letters signed by more than 90 Global Zero leaders to President of the United States
Barack Obama and President of the Russian Federation
Dmitry Medvedev, urging them to commit to the elimination of nuclear weapons. Global Zero Commissioners Senator
Chuck Hagel and Ambassador
Richard Burt met with President Medvedev in Moscow and discussed the agenda.
On
April 1, 2009 the two presidents met in London and issued a historic
joint statement committing their “two countries to achieving a nuclear
free world” and three days later in a speech in Prague, President Obama
declared his intention to “seek to include all nuclear weapons states in
this endeavor.”
[3] On the day of the meeting,
the Times (of London) published an op-ed authored by six Global Zero leaders.
[4] Negotiations began between the two countries for a
New START nuclear arms reduction treaty.
Prior
to the July 6–8, 2009 Obama-Medvedev Summit, the international Global
Zero Commission of 23 political and military leaders released a
comprehensive, end-to-end plan for the elimination of nuclear weapons
over the next 20 years. At their Summit, Presidents Obama and Medvedev
announced a framework agreement for new reductions to U.S. and Russian
arsenals
[5]–
a critical first step toward multilateral negotiations for the
elimination of all nuclear weapons as called for in the Global Zero
Action Plan (GZAP).
At the
35th G8 summit in
July 2009, world leaders announced their support of the Obama-Medvedev
commitment to eliminate all nuclear weapons and called on all countries
to “undertake further steps in
nuclear disarmament.”
[6] Global Zero leaders believe the international consensus for the elimination of nuclear weapons is reaching a critical mass,
[2]especially
given the declarations of political leaders during the special U.N.
Security Council session on proliferation and disarmament convened by
President Obama (September 24, 2009).
[3] President Obama received the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize in acknowledgment to his efforts for nuclear disarmament.
[7]
[edit]Public opinion
Building
public opinion supportive of the elimination of nuclear weapons is part
of the goal of the Global Zero campaign. These include encouraging
media worldwide to make the elimination of nuclear weapons a leading
global policy issue, to launch a global student campaign, and to expand
the online citizen membership and the cadre of leaders.
A
poll conducted in 2008 in 21 countries found that 76% of over 19,000
people surveyed favored the verified elimination of nuclear weapons.
[8]
