Managing Director Derek Johnson writes, “The greatest danger to human civilization and the planet is the inability to believe that tomorrow can be different, the idea that we are individually powerless in the face of colliding existential threats.”
MoreReaching Zero
In 1986, there were 70,300 nuclear weapons on the planet. Today, an estimated 12,500 weapons remain.
In the dark days of the Cold War, few could have imagined the arms race would give way to decades of international cooperation that reduced global nuclear arsenals by 80%.
Big vision and leadership, emboldened by public demand too loud to ignore, has taken us a long way through challenging times. We can keep going, and we’ve mapped the way forward.
- 70,300 Nuclear weapons in 1986
- 12,500 Nuclear weapons in 2024
- 0 Nuclear weapons in 2045
Building the Movement
Global Zero’s work aims to unlock the world of possibility beyond the bomb.
Imagine a future where stability is not conflated with the threat of mass destruction; where safety for some no longer requires vulnerability for others; where justice and equity are experienced by communities most impacted by nuclear harm; and where international cooperation in the face of common threats allows us to finally address the many other urgent challenges competing for attention.
That future is possible — but we can’t get there alone. It will take bold leadership backed by a people-powered movement to topple these weapons of mass destruction and the systems of injustice that uphold them.
Achieving Justice
Nuclear abolition is not a standalone fight. Our movement intersects across other existential threats and social issues, from climate and racial justice to democracy and public health. Whether it’s extractive uranium mining, nuclear testing, waste storage, or coercive nuclear threats, abolishing these weapons is a critical pillar of the global fight for equity and justice.
In The News
Former Obama administration official discusses nuclear danger
Senior Advisor joins the The Midcoast Forum on Foreign Relations to discuss whether a new era of nuclear danger is upon us.
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