Knowledge comes with responsibilities!
In 2023 we experienced the new normal; wilder, warmer, and wetter conditions are now a reality, also in Norway. Moreover, we are adjusting to the realities of war in Europe, heightened tensions, and unrest in many parts of the world.
Monitoring compliance of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) is our most important task and a solid foundation for a safer world. The CTBT is one of the key pillars in global disarmament efforts. It is therefore a concern that Russia decided to de-ratify the Treaty in 2023. This as well as the unrest elsewhere in the world, influences the work of the governing bodies overseeing the verification regime. Moving forward, securing the treaty and the technical work to detect nuclear tests will be an important task.
New technological solutions are attracting attention! We are making use of our technology and expertise from the CTBT to document explosions in the vicinity of nuclear power plants in Ukraine. Our efforts have gained international attention, along with the documentation that the Kakhovka Dam was intentionally destroyed, putting the civilian population at great risk. The UN has asked for the documentation which could prove useful in a potential investigation of war crimes.