Topic: Emerging Nuclear States and the Global Nuclear Framework
Country: Belgium
Delegate Name: Brandon Pham
School: Forest Hills Eastern High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Belgium position papers GLIMUN 2016 committees
In 1945, the world beheld the devastation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, witnessing the devastating power that nuclear weapons possessed. Since then, a multitude of nuclear tests have taken place, and an abundance of countries have stockpiled on warheads, an estimated 15,500, according to the Arms Control Association (ACA). The Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) was established in order to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology, to promote cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and to further the goal of achieving nuclear disarmament. Despite these efforts under the NPT, the looming threat of all out nuclear warfare is still eminent, as many notable countries have not signed. In addition to the threat of nuclear warheads, significant efforts have been made to harness nuclear energy for power purposes. Numerous countries are either operating nuclear reactors for peaceful production of nuclear energy, or already depending on them to sustain a chunk of their total electricity. Emerging nuclear states and the global nuclear framework is a crucial topic for the Special Political and Decolonization Committee to decide because it could determine the fate of the world as we know it. While harnessing nuclear energy has much potential and could be the key to achieving clean, sustainable energy, the threat of nuclear warheads is as prominent as ever.
The Kingdom of Belgium relies on seven nuclear reactors to generate half of its electricity. Their first commercial nuclear reactor began operating in 1974, but since 2003, there has been little government support for nuclear energy. At the end of 2011, an industry-commissioned poll showed that 58% of Belgians favoured keeping nuclear power, but 62% wanted to reduce its share in the mix (from more than half). Some thought it would be difficult to replace the nuclear share and recognized that electricity prices would rise if nuclear was phased out. Although 59% of Belgians agree with the decision of the government to phase out nuclear by 2025, almost three-quarters of them see significant risks and higher energy costs from such a decision. Overall 65% of Belgians believe that nuclear energy production should continue in Belgium, up from 58% in 2011. Moving on to the problem of nuclear weapons, Belgium is covered by NATO’s “nuclear umbrella”, and agrees with the NPT because when larger countries have nuclear weapons,it would make Belgium an even smaller and more insignificant country. However, the United States has doled a whopping 180 warheads at bases in Europe, including stations in Belgium, for safekeeping and usage if it ever came to it. This makes Belgium a more powerful country, as they now have control of weapons that bigger countries possess. Now, the threats of Iran, Israel, and North Korea can be dealt with, as Belgium now has a means of combating them, as well as allies to help.
The Special Political and Decolonization Committee should intervene with these affairs by coming up with a different solution for potential energy sources as well as dispose of them accordingly, since the Belgian government has decided to decommission them by 2025. With the prospect of nuclear warfare over our heads, we should encourage the UN to negotiate terms with all countries possessing nuclear weapons, including the ones that haven’t signed, to further decrease their stockpile of nuclear warheads. Reducing the stockpile of nuclear weapons around the world and finding a new, clean source of energy will help Belgium become great again.
