In 1986, there were 70,300 nuclear weapons on the planet. Today, an estimated 12,705 weapons remain.
In the dark days of the Cold War, few could have imagined the arms race would give way to decades of international cooperation that reduced global nuclear arsenals by 80%.
Big vision and leadership, emboldened by public demand too loud to ignore, has taken us a long way already, through challenging times. We can keep going, and we’ve mapped the way forward.
Global Zero’s work aims to unlock the world of possibility beyond the bomb.
Imagine a future where stability is not conflated with the threat of mass destruction; where safety for some no longer requires vulnerability for others; where justice and equity are experienced by communities most impacted by nuclear harm; and where international cooperation in the face of common threats allows us to finally address the many other urgent challenges competing for attention.
That future is possible, but we can’t get there alone. It will take bold leadership backed by a people-powered movement to topple these weapons of mass destruction and the systems of injustice that uphold them.
Nuclear abolition is not a standalone fight. Our movement intersects across other existential threats and social issues, from climate and racial justice to democracy and public health. Whether it’s extractive uranium mining, nuclear testing, waste storage, or coercive nuclear threats, abolishing these weapons is a critical pillar of the global fight for equity and justice.
Associate Partner for Research & Policy Emma Claire Foley is quoted in coverage of a US-Russia aerial collision over the Black Sea: “As long as the US and Russia both have nukes – not to mention regular signaling/threats of use – relatively minor incidents like this can easily escalate.“
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Global Zero Associate Partner for Research & Policy Emma Claire Foley contributed comment to Spanish-language coverage of Russia’s suspension of New START.
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