Chartbook
Adam Tooze
Adam Tooze frequently discusses various aspects of the polycrisis in his blog posts. Notable entries include: “Defining polycrisis – from crisis pictures to the crisis matrix” (24 June 2022) “Calibrating…
Polycrisis Resource Library
The Polycrisis Resource Library is a growing collection of media that help to understand polycrisis, develop strategies to address polycrisis, and build a field of polycrisis analysis.
The Power of Crisis: How Three Threats – And Our Response – Will Change the World
Ian Bremmer
Ian Bremmer argues that the world faces three major crises—pandemics, climate change, and disruptive technologies (AI, lethal autonomous weapons, cyberwarfare, and biotechnology)—but our ability to respond effectively is hampered by…
Briefing note on systemic risk
Jana Sillmann, Ingrid Christensen, Stefan Hochrainer-Stigler, Jo-Ting Huang-Lachmann, Sirkku Juhola, Kai Kornhuber, Miguel D. Mahecha, Reinhard Mechler, Markus Reichstein, Alex C. Ruane, Pia-Johanna Schweizer and Scott Williams
This briefing note presents an integrated perspective on climate, environmental, and disaster risk science and practice concerning systemic risk. It provides an overview of the evolving concepts of systemic risk…
Crude Futures
Richard Hames
In this blog, Richard Hames discusses polycrisis, societal collapse, existential risk, and related themes. Notable entries include: · “Existential Risk and The Method of Collapsology” (23 June 2022) · “The decisive moment”…
How the World Really Works
Vaclav Smil
Against those who anticipate a smooth, timely transition to renewable energy and net-zero carbon emissions, Vaclav Smil argues that we are much more dependent on fossil fuels than we recognize…
Decline and Fall, Growth and Spread, or Resilience? Approaches to Studying How and Why Societies Change
Daniel Hoyer
Daniel Hoyer examines qualitative, case study, complex system, and societal dynamics approaches to explain “historical precedents of collapse, growth, and resilience.” He explains drawbacks to each method, and stresses “the…
Global Catastrophic Risks 2022: A Year of Colliding Consequences
Kajsa Waaghals (editor-in-chief)
The report provides an overview of several catastrophic risks that are potentially global in scope: weapons of mass destruction, pandemics, artificial intelligence, asteroids, climate change, super-volcanic eruptions, ecological collapse, population…
Global Risks Perceptions Report 2021
Future Earth, Sustainability in the Digital Age and International Science Council
The Global Risks Scientists’ Perceptions Report 2021 presents the results of the second iteration of a global survey aimed at capturing how scientists perceive pressing global risks. Conducted between June…
A Deeper Dive into the Meta Crisis
Camille Carlton and Maria Bridge
Camille Carlton and Maria Bridge argue that technology can amplify the metacrisis in two ways: by creating a centralized dystopia in which governments use technology to control citizens, or by…
Power: Limits and Prospects for Human Survival
Richard Heinberg
Richard Heinberg examines humanity’s unprecedented power over the planet, exploring the consequences of its overuse, which he argues has led to ecological and social crises. He questions how humanity’s dominance…
About the Resource Library
The Polycrisis Resource Library includes resources that:
- Comment on the polycrisis as a concept and as a present global reality
- Undertake similar analysis using different—but related—concepts
- Analyze crisis interactions among multiple global systems
Though not exhaustive, the Library strives to present a diverse representation of views on different aspects of the polycrisis discussion, and will be updated as that discussion evolves. Search for resources with the keyword search bar, or by using the drop-down menus to filter for type of resource, global systems addressed, and key themes.