Based on specific critical facts and the most recent scientific research, the Global Catastrophic Risks 2022: A Year of Colliding Consequences report from the Global Challenges Foundation aims to present an overview of the global catastrophic risks facing the world. By combining historical evidence and scientific data to determine which risks should be included in the report. Later, they identified ten key risks, classified into three major categories. For instance, current risks from human action, natural catastrophes, and emerging risks. The report’s general structure describes each issue: What is at stake, How much we know, Key factors affecting risk levels and Governance. Sections include:
- Weapons of mass destruction
- Nuclear warfare
- Biological and chemical warfare
- Pandemics
- Artificial Intelligence
- Near-Earth asteroids
- Climate catastrophe
- Supervolcanic eruption
- Ecological collapse
- Global population size
- Climate tipping points
Quoting the report:
“The year 2022 has seen the global threats facing humanity grow and intensify, interlinking and reinforcing one another with far reaching consequences for our future. The current risk landscape illustrates more than ever the need for worldwide collaboration to forge a safe way forward.”
Overall, recent changes in doctrines and new nuclear weapons make it more likely than ever that such weapons will be used in military action or by accident. Norms of restraint are “now unravelling at an alarming rate” while emissions worldwide continue to rise and the window of opportunity to halt catastrophic climate change narrows.
The report seeks to supplement the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report, which provides the perception of global risks by leading political and economic actors. However, while perception is a powerful motivator of collective action and decision-making, a more focused examination of the risks will guide better long-term strategy and assist in designing more efficient governance models, as this report encourages.
Download the report here.
