Environment and Nuclear Energy

28 July 1986

The Twenty-Third International Congress of WILPF, meeting at Zeist, the Netherlands, 23-29 July 1986,

Following accidents at nuclear power stations, WILPF is aware that the production of nuclear power, whether for civil or military use, is a global concern, and that the human race has neither sufficient knowledge about nuclear energy nor sufficient wisdom to use it responsibly.

The lasting effects of atomic bombings and tests are destructive of the environment and of human life and peace of mind, while the production, use and disposal problems related to nuclear energy threaten life and future generations and cannot be eliminated by legislation and safety measures.

The production of nuclear energy is related to arms manufacture since the plutonium required for nuclear weapons is a by-product of the industrial cycle.


A.  Calls upon all WILPF sections to press their governments

  1. to cancel plans for building further nuclear power stations and to start phasing out existing ones;
  2. to implement existing agreements on the protection of the environment;
  3. to strengthen regulations on pollution control, especially pollution by radiation;
  4. to allow on-site inspection of nuclear installations by independent scientists and the publication of full reports on radio-active and other pollution;
  5. to strengthen the provision of emergency services;
  6. to insist on international agreement on the siting of potentially dangerous non-nuclear installations;
  7. to divert investment towards the development of safe, renewable and non-polluting energy sources, for which sufficient knowledge now exists.

B.  Further calls upon all governments and the international community

  1. to review the mandate of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and request that the IAEA halt all activities related to the promotion of nuclear power;
  2. that as long as nuclear power reactors exist, the IAEA  continue to monitor compliance with Article III of the NPT;
  3. that furthermore the mandate of the IAEA include the promotion of international programs and standards for the phasing out of nuclear activities;
  4. that the IAEA be authorized to pass data on radio-active fall-out to NGOs;
  5. that NGOs be invited to attend conferences called by the IAEA on safety measures in the nuclear industry.

C.  Calls on the United Nations and all governments

  1. to cancel the UN Conference for the Promotion of International Co-operation on the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy (PUNE) scheduled to be held at Geneva in 1987, and instead to find ways and means to follow up on the Nairobi Conference on New and Renewable Energy Sources;
  2. to take measures to halt the illegal mining of uranium in Namibia.