N.Z. seeks talks on war consequences

Press, 23 November 1987, Page 6

N.Z. seeks talks on war consequences

By OLIVER RIDDELL in Wellington

New Zealand Is seeking to have the consequences of nuclear war discussed at the next General Assembly of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. The last general assembly meeting at Madrid in 1984 passed a resolution on the nuclear winter effect. The Minister of Conservation, Ms Clark, said a lot had been learned since then and the 1984 resolution needed to be followed up. A 1985 report by the , Scientific Council on Problems of the Environment, involving 300 sclen-

tists from 30 countries, had reaffirmed that nuclear war had the potential to disrupt the world climate profoundly. It had also concluded that the likely callapse of modern* agricultural systems and international trade could mean between 1000 million and 3000 million people would die of starvation, she said. New Zealand had put forward a resolution for the next general assembly, urging all countries and international organisations to assist in scientific research to provide a better understanding of the environmental consequences of nuclear war. It recommended that

the union give a high priority to such research and to ensure that the policymakers and the public were made aware of scientific information on the environmental consequences of nuclear war. Ms Clark said New Zealand’s commitment to nuclear disarmament had attracted considerable International attention. It was appropriate that New Zealand take the initiative and promote such a resolution. The union had yet to advise New Zealand whether the resolution had been accepted for discussion at the next meeting in San Jose, Costa Rica, from February 1-10 next year, she said.