Global Peace Dividend

Over 50 Nobel laureates, the presidents of several Academies of Sciences, and other leading intellectuals launched an appeal to all peoples and their governments. 

In 2020, the year the world economy collapsed due to COVID, 100 million people were affected by floods, storms and other climate-related disasters, and rich countries fell short of their climate finance pledge, world military spending rose to 2 trillion USD—2.6% more than in 2019 and twice higher than in 2000. These massive investments in weapons are a colossal waste.

If all countries reduce their military spending by 2%/year starting in 2025, a "global peace dividend" of 1.3 trillion USD will be liberated by 2030, at no cost to any nation. These are immense resources, comparable to total investments in renewable energy during this period, and far greater than the funds available to research and treat cancer, AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined. 

Nations increase military spending simply because others are doing it as well. To escape this vicious circle the only path is through international negotiations. Past arms reduction treaties, e.g. between the USA and USSR, demonstrate that cooperation is possible—even between adversaries.