This statement from the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists sets the Doomsday Clock at 85 seconds to midnight, the closest it has ever been, signaling an intensifying risk of global catastrophe. It highlights the convergence of escalating threats, including nuclear conflict, climate change, biotechnology risks, and unregulated artificial intelligence, all compounded by rising nationalism, autocracy, […]
It is Now 85 Seconds to Midnight Read More »
This report presents the Global Challenges Foundation’s assessment of the most pressing catastrophic risks facing humanity today. It identifies five key threats: catastrophic climate change, ecological collapse, weapons of mass destruction, the use of AI in military decision-making, and near-Earth asteroids. The report highlights how these risks are becoming increasingly interconnected, accelerating and reinforcing one
Global Catastrophic Risks 2026 Read More »
The authors argue that disasters are no longer isolated events but manifestations of an interconnected complex risk landscape in which cascading and compounding hazards interact across systems. Drawing on recent examples such as California’s year-round wildfires and Hurricane Helene’s inland flooding, they illustrate how overlapping shocks amplify vulnerability and strain governance capacities. They contend that
Updating Mental Models of Risk Read More »
In this episode, Ajay Gambhir, Director of Systemic Risk Assessment at ASRA, explores the concept of polycrisis, showing how climate change is deeply interconnected with other global challenges across social, economic, and political systems. He highlights how crises reinforce one another, creating complex feedbacks that demand integrated solutions. A central theme is inequality, which shapes
Navigating Systemic Risk in the Age of Polycrisis Read More »
In this Cascade Institute Speaker Series episode, Dr. Nate Hagens, presents a compelling framework for understanding our world as a complex, energy-dependent “Superorganism” operating far from equilibrium. He analyzes potential future scenarios that humanity may be heading toward and introduces the idea that small, focused efforts can elevate entire systems to a higher order. This
The Price of Power: Navigating the Great Simplification Read More »
In this report, the Club of Rome argues that the current peace architecture, largely shaped by a few dominant powers in the post–World War II era, is no longer fit for purpose. A post-hegemonic, pluriversal future is needed—one that embraces diverse worldviews, rebalances global power structures, and cultivates harmony between humanity and nature. The Club
Planetary Peace for Human Security: Responses to Existential Risks in the Anthropocene Read More »
The paper examines two historical global food–energy crises, highlighting the limitations of traditional risk management approaches in addressing today’s complex and interconnected global risks. The authors propose a methodological framework for assessing systemic risks in a global polycrisis context, which includes exploring system architectures, considering transformational responses away from risks, and applying cross-cutting practices. They
A Systemic Risk Assessment Methodological Framework for the Global Polycrisis Read More »
This paper presents a systematic bibliometric analysis of the expanding literature on global catastrophic risk (GCR) and existential risk (ER). Based on 3,437 documents, the authors identify ten major research clusters, including key drivers such as artificial intelligence, climate change, and pandemics. The metadata indicate that approximately 150 GCR/ER-related publications are produced annually. The analysis
The State of Global Catastrophic Risk Research: A Bibliometric Review Read More »
In this episode, Sarah Wilson delves into the concept of societal collapse, exploring its roots and possible responses. She weaves together Western and Indigenous perspectives, discussing theories such as Moloch theory, the influence of the Church, and critiques of technological elitism. The conversation emphasizes viewing crises as opportunities for transformation, advocating for the spread of
Collapse: What It Is — And What To Do Read More »
This second issue of the Global Governance Forum’s Global Catastrophic Risk Index (GCRI) examines the complexity of global risk and presents a clear picture of vulnerabilities across nations. The Index evaluates 163 countries using 109 indicators sourced from institutions such as the World Bank, IMF, and United Nations. It identifies the most at-risk countries as
The Global Catastrophic Risk Index: Navigating Risk in an Uncertain Future Read More »
