Twin threats: Climate change and nukes

Climate change and nuclear weapons have a lot in common: they are existential threats, their impacts don't respect geographical boundaries, and no country can solve them alone. Dr. Rachel Cleetus and Dr. John Burroughs join host Ryann Blackshere Vargas to discuss how treaties, international law, and the voices of everyday people can work in tandem to confront both threats.

Guest bios:

Dr. Rachel Cleetus is the Senior Policy Director of the Climate and Energy program at the Union of Concerned Scientists. She conducts research on climate impacts and clean energy, and advocates for science-based policies to advance climate action. She is an expert on the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and has been attending international climate negotiations since 2009.

Dr. John Burroughs is Senior Analyst at the Lawyers Committee on Nuclear Policy (LCNP). He has represented LCNP in Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty review proceedings and in negotiations on the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Dr. Burroughs was also a member of the legal team for the Marshall Islands in its nuclear disarmament cases in the International Court of Justice.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

John's article "The Inadmissibility of Nuclear Threats": https://www.armscontrol.org/act/2024-04/features/inadmissibility-nuclear-threats

John's work representing the Marshall Islands in the International Court of Justice: https://www.lcnp.org/marshall-islands

Information from John's organization about the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons: https://www.lcnp.org/tpnw

Rachel's blog: https://blog.ucs.org/author/rachel-cleetus/

Rachel's recent report "Colliding Crises: The Dangers of Extreme Heat in Affordable Housing": https://www.ucs.org/resources/colliding-crises

Rachel's recent report "Science and Democracy Under Siege: Documenting Six Months of the Trump Administration's Destructive Actions": https://www.ucs.org/resources/science-and-democracy-under-siege