Nuclear weapons and climate change are two serious man-made threats against 'human security'. In 1954, the United Nations passed a resolution called 'Nuclear for Peace' against the 'military use of nuclear energy'. The United Nations established the International Atomic Energy Agency in 1957 to promote the safe and peaceful use of nuclear energy. Although nuclear energy is accepted as clean energy, the ways to accelerate it have not yet been determined. Therefore, this article focuses on the topic that the interaction between conventional war, nuclear energy and nuclear weapons and climate destruction should be raised in the upcoming climate change conference.

The United Nations Convention on Climate Change (1992) has a regular annual meeting (abbreviated as the 'Cup' meeting) of the parties. The main goal of the Cup meeting is to "hold the increase in global average temperature to below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels" and advance efforts to limit temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius. For that, it is necessary to replace fossil fuel energy with clean energy. Nepal's neighbors China and India are both countries with nuclear energy and nuclear weapons. Although a country with clean hydroelectric power sources like Nepal cannot produce nuclear energy by itself, it should make a policy to be a part of a comprehensive strategy regarding it. Nuclear energy can be integrated with hydropower through the grid.

Human-emissions of greenhouse gases are currently about 52 billion tons annually. According to the IPCC, by 2030, based on 2019 emissions, that would have to decrease by 43 percent. But every year the emission is increasing instead of decreasing. That's why the 'Cup 28 Dubai' announcement was made to triple global nuclear power capacity by 2050. Its aim is to increase nuclear power capacity to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. It is mentioned that "Cup 29 Baku" will find ways to accelerate nuclear energy in the future.

Efforts are currently being made to address the interrelationships between wartime military emissions and various sources of climate change. The upcoming 30th Cup meeting to be held in Brazil or later would also be appropriate to discuss the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty 1968 (NTP) in depth. Because NTP is a multilateral binding agreement . Its main goals are to promote and promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy, to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons, and to achieve the goal of disarmament by nuclear-weapon states. The NTP came into effect in 1970 and was extended indefinitely in 1995.

Why discussion on NTP is necessary?

Nuclear-armed nations control every international issue . In such a situation, non-nuclear weapon states are losing their sovereignty to self-determine  A total of 191 nations have joined the NTP, including five of the nine nuclear-weapon states (China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States). India, Pakistan, Israel and North Korea are not NTP parties. Neither has nuclear disarmament been achieved, nor has the proliferation of nuclear weapons been stopped . Currently, only some have the right to have nuclear weapons, while others are being attacked on the basis of suspicion that they build nuclear weapons. Many others do not have the capability to build nuclear power for peaceful purposes . This position of NTP is the biggest mockery of international law.

Nuclear-armed nations control every international issue . In such a situation, the nations without nuclear weapons are losing their sovereignty of self-determination . There is an obligation to be active and united against the hegemony of nuclear power in the upcoming cup conferences. In particular, countries that do not have the ambition of nuclear weapons but want to use peaceful nuclear energy, countries that emit negligible carbon but are seriously affected by the effects of climate change, and countries that advocate peace, such as Nepal, seem to have to adopt a new approach to peace and security in climate negotiations. It is very necessary . Because on the one hand, the peaceful use of nuclear energy is becoming necessary to reduce carbon emissions and combat the effects of climate change. On the other hand, NTP is increasingly being misused . Meanwhile, the voices of nuclear disarmament are falling silent .

Leaders of military power countries consider nuclear weapons essential . The United States, Russia, France, China, Britain, Pakistan, India, Israel and North Korea are among them. These countries do not think that climate change is a threat to 'human security'. Therefore, they emit the most greenhouse gases into the world's atmosphere . Leaders of countries with nuclear weapons are not seen as reliable for world peace . Although nuclear weapons are said to be part of the balance of power, it has created an evil situation where 'a hammer in hand can solve all problems by hitting a nail'. This is the most dangerous situational trend in international relations .

The latest example of a dangerous situation is the Israel-US attack on Iran. Israel launched an illegal attack against Iran in June 2025, citing the illegitimate argument of self-defense, based on suspicions that Iran was developing potential nuclear weapons. Even if it is believed that Iran had the intention to produce nuclear weapons, Israel has not been able to submit proper proof of that intention. It cannot be argued that a military attack was the only option available. On top of that, American "B-2" bombers hit Iran's Fordow and Natanz nuclear sites with more than a dozen "bunker-buster bombs". None other than Israel and the US government and its satellite countries have accepted the legitimacy of such an illegal attack . Iran is an NTP member. Iran was under severe monitoring by the International Atomic Energy Agency. After the Israeli-American attack on Iran, such an agency has been accused of working for Israel.

war cup agenda why ?

The 1972 Stockholm Declaration of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment (Principle 26) clearly acknowledges the dangers of nuclear weapons and calls for their elimination . The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons was signed in 2017. It prohibits the development, testing, production, manufacture, acquisition, possession, stockpiling, transfer or use of nuclear weapons . The International Committee of the Red Cross has warned of irreparable damage to the environment from a nuclear explosion. Environmental concerns of nuclear testing have been expressed in the resolutions of the First Committee of the United Nations General Assembly. General Assembly debates have linked nuclear disarmament to sustainable development and environmental protection.

There is growing recognition that environmental degradation, resource scarcity and climate change can fuel conflict and create new conflicts. Because global military emissions during conflict are a significant contributor to climate change . The impact of explosive remnants of war on soil erosion is being discussed . Therefore, it seems appropriate to integrate the broader context of conflict and environmental degradation under the Cup negotiations instead of addressing it in other forums.

The main agenda of Cup 30 is to accelerate and strengthen the fight against climate change. For example, energy, industry and transport, transition, conservation of forests, oceans and biodiversity, transformation of agriculture and food systems, building sustainable cities and infrastructure and promoting human development etc . The CUP conference also emphasizes the importance of finance, technology and capacity building for these tasks . The examples of Ukraine and Gaza help make the case for why it is necessary to address war and the environment in an integrated manner.

The Ukraine war has been ongoing since February 2022 . According to Ukrainian and European Union reports, the following summary can be drawn - more than 3 million hectares of forest have been destroyed in Ukraine . Soil erosion has occurred due to explosives. Pollution from explosives and fuels, such as weapons, diesel and chemicals is increasing widely. Contamination of heavy metals – lead, mercury – uranium and other toxic substances has occurred. Damage to industrial infrastructure, shelling of chemical plants, oil depots and nuclear facilities i.e. the Zaporizhia Nuclear Plant are at risk. There is air and water pollution from industrial accidents and explosions. An estimated 100 million tons of carbon dioxide were emitted in the first year of the Ukraine war alone. This includes emissions from military operations and infrastructure destroyed by fire . June 2023 The destruction of the Kakhovka Dam caused a major flood disaster, costing millions in irrigation, fisheries and water supplies . Biodiversity was damaged in the "Dnipro Plain" due to a large flood. There is an old report that the estimated cost of environmental damage is US$ 50-70 billion. War and environmental damage continue .

The Gaza war has been ongoing since October 2023 . The following can be summarized from the assessment of the United Nations and non-governmental environmental organizations about Gaza: Environmental air, water and soil damage and pollution are occurring in Gaza. Heavy metal particles and chemicals have been released from continuous airstrikes. More than 60 percent of Gaza's buildings have been damaged or destroyed. Concrete dust and other toxic substances released from destroyed debris are . Gaza's garbage and sewerage systems are not working due to bombing . Raw sewage is discharged into the Mediterranean Sea and open fields. There is a risk of epidemics and long-term water table pollution. There is no exact figure for carbon emissions, but emissions come from fuel use, airstrikes, fires and emergency power generators. Ninety-seven percent of Gaza's water was undrinkable before the war. Bombings of water infrastructure and power stations have exacerbated this . Seawater intrusion and aquifer pollution will have long-term effects . Agricultural land is destroyed by bomb blasts or land operations. Damage to tree cover and soil is estimated from seawater and chemicals. The estimated damage value is US$ 5-15 billion.

It is difficult to ascertain the true number of killings in Gaza. It is a serious matter that some states and lawyers are raising their voices against the genocide in the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court. As long as America supports Israel unconditionally, no one can stop the destruction of Gaza . How will the countries that supported the genocide react and what narrative will they start on the second day of the 'total destruction' of Gaza ? This is what Pankaj Mishra has termed as 'moral and intellectual disasters' ('The World after Gaza', 2025) .

Based on the circumstances and arguments mentioned above, Cup 30 would be appropriate to debate war and the environment . Some may say that specific international problems should be dealt with separately with specific solutions . But the world is trying to deal with nuclear weapons separately, but it has not succeeded . Past Cup meetings have themselves failed to address climate change.