United Nations Agreement on Military Use of the Weather Is Signed
The United Nations Agreement on the Military Use of the Weather, formally known as the Convention on the Prohibition of Military or any Other Hostile Use of Environmental Modification Techniques, addresses concerns over the potential military applications of weather modification technologies. Signed on May 18, 1977, by 31 nations, including major powers like the United States and the Soviet Union, this agreement reflects a global commitment to prohibit the hostile use of environmental techniques that could endanger humanity and the environment. The roots of this agreement trace back to the early 1970s, spurred by discussions around the ethical implications of manipulating weather for military gain, particularly during periods of conflict.
Despite the absence of developed weather weapons at the time of signing, the agreement acknowledges the theoretical risks posed by techniques such as cloud seeding, which could potentially be misused for warfare. The U.S. Congress played a significant role in advocating for a ban on such practices, leading to legislative action and international dialogue on the issue. The agreement was ratified by the U.S. Senate on November 28, 1979, reinforcing its significance in global peacekeeping efforts. Overall, this treaty stands as a crucial element in international law aimed at safeguarding the environment and promoting responsible use of scientific advancements in the context of military operations.
United Nations Agreement on Military Use of the Weather Is Signed
United Nations Agreement on Military Use of the Weather Is Signed
On December 10, 1976, the United Nations General Assembly approved an international agreement—the Convention on the Prohibition of Military or any Other Hostile Use of Environmental Modification Techniques—by a vote of 96 to 8, with 30 abstentions. Thirty-one nations including the United States and the Soviet Union signed the Convention on May 18, 1977, and it went into effect on October 5, 1978.
The roots of this Convention go back to 1972, when the United States renounced the use of weather modification for military purposes. Although there was no practical “weather weapon” in use or under development then, nor is there one now as of the writing of this book, it was and still remains a theoretical possibility. For example, the seeding of clouds to produce rain is a technique that goes back several decades: various substances are introduced into clouds in order to stimulate precipitation during times of drought. Such techniques as this might be adapted for warfare. In 1973 the U.S. Congress held a series of hearings on the subject, which resulted in a resolution calling for the prohibition of weather-based weapons. During a meeting between U.S. president Richard M. Nixon and Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev in the Soviet capital of Moscow in 1974, the two men agreed to schedule a series of future bilateral discussions specifically on the issue of weather modification. After three such discussions between their representatives in 1974 and 1975, the result was a jointly drafted text which, with some modifications, reached the UN General Assembly in the fall of 1976. When that text was signed in May 1977, it was still necessary for the U.S. Senate to ratify it in order for the American endorsement to be valid. That ratification was achieved on November 28, 1979, by a vote of 98 to 0.