No Place to Hide? Regional Resilience and Vulnerability to Global Catastrophic Risk

The authors examine which locations are most resilient to global catastrophic risks, including nuclear war, near-Earth objects, major volcanic eruptions, large-scale cyberattacks, electromagnetic pulses, geomagnetic storms, and pandemics. They find that no location is resilient across all scenarios, although Australia demonstrates resilience across the widest range of risks considered. Common resilience factors include geographic isolation, food self-sufficiency, strong and democratic governance, lower inequality, and decentralisation, although trade-offs between these factors can affect resilience to different risks and their short- and long-term consequences. The authors argue that strengthening resilience to global catastrophic risks requires greater investment in preparedness, national risk planning, food security, and international agreements that support cooperation before and during catastrophic events.