New Global Catastrophic Risks report

Human presence on Earth can be described as a success story. We have spread to all corners of the globe and are living longer and longer. But the question is: how sustainable is our lifestyle? Our way of life has not only been disastrous for other species, it now also threatens us. According to the report, improved cross-border governance is needed to secure our future.

The report, produced by the Global Challenges Foundation, contains an overview of Earth system stability from authors Johan Rockström and Fatima Denton, where they state that "for the first time in human history, we are forced to consider the real risk of destabilising our only home, planet Earth".

The report covers five catastrophic global risks - climate change, biodiversity collapse, weapons of mass destruction, artificial intelligence (AI) in military decision-making and near Earth asteroids. While the probability of each of these risks occurring varies, the impact for large parts of humanity is enormous. The report also explores what can and should be done to mitigate these risks.

“Man-made risks such as climate changes, biodiversity collapse, weapons of mass destruction and the military use of artificial intelligence cannot be addressed in isolated silos. As climate and environment become increasingly intertwined with peace and security, we need a paradigm shift in international cooperation - one that bridges silos and reflects today’s interconnected risks,” says Jens Orback, Strategic Advisor, Global Challenges Foundation.