Who We Are What is the CTBT? The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban
Treaty (CTBT) bans nuclear explosions by everyone, everywhere:
on the Earth's surface, in the atmosphere, underwater and
underground. Why is the CTBT important? It makes it very
difficult for countries to develop nuclear bombs for the first
time, or for countries that already have them, to make more
powerful bombs. It also prevents the huge damage caused by
radioactivity from nuclear explosions to humans, animals and
plants. Over 2000 nuclear explosions from 1945 to 1996 Over 2000
nuclear tests were carried out between 1945 and 1996, when the
CTBT opened for signature: by the United States (1000+), the
Soviet Union (700+), France (200+), the United Kingdom and China
(45 each). Three countries have broken the de facto moratorium
and tested nuclear weapons since 1996: India and Pakistan in
1998, and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) in
2006 and 2009. CTBT almost universal but has yet to become law
Many attempts were made during the C