United Nations General Assembly Resolution 31/72
UN resolution referring the Environmental Modification Convention for ratification.
On 10 December 1976, the UN General Assembly passed Resolution 31/72, which sent the Environmental Modification Convention to all nations for review, signing, and ratification. This convention forbids using environmental modification techniques for military or hostile purposes if they cause widespread, long-lasting, or severe effects. The convention took effect on 5 October 1978.
Quick Facts
- Number
- 31/72
- Date
- 10 December
- Meeting
- 31
- Against
- 8
- Subject
- Environmental Modification Convention
- Result
- Adopted
Facts from the source article.
History
In July 1972, the United States gave up using climate modification as a weapon, even if that technology later became possible. The next year, it pushed for a global ban on military use of environmental and geophysical changes. After studying potential applications, the U.S. contacted the Soviet Union. President Richard Nixon and General Secretary Leonid Brezhnev held three meetings on the topic in 1974 and 1975. In 1975, both countries started drafting specific terms at the Conference of the Committee on Disarmament. The final text was completed in 1976 and submitted to the UN General Assembly for its fall session.
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