We are pleased to announce the publication of The Third Nuclear Age: Exploring Non-Traditional Security Challenges in Nuclear Policymaking, a new report by International Student/Young Pugwash (ISYP).

As the global nuclear landscape enters what many scholars describe as a Third Nuclear Age, traditional approaches to nuclear deterrence and arms control are increasingly strained by systemic and often overlooked forces. Drawing on interviews with diplomats, government officials, experts, and civil society actors from six continents, this report examines how climate change, social justice, and public perception are reshaping nuclear policymaking in a multipolar and technologically complex world.

The report highlights growing frustration among non-nuclear-weapon states and actors from the Global Majority, explores the erosion of arms control and nuclear norms, and assesses how non-traditional security challenges intersect with strategic stability. By foregrounding human-centred and interdisciplinary perspectives, the study identifies critical gaps in current decision-making and offers policy-relevant insights for more inclusive and resilient nuclear governance.

This publication marks the second phase of ISYP’s Third Nuclear Age (3NA) project and lays the groundwork for future policy innovation, including the development of practical, actionable recommendations through the forthcoming initiatives.