Doomsday Clock ticks closer to midnight due to escalating catastrophic risks

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists has announced its annual assessment, setting the Doomsday Clock at 85 seconds to midnight for 2026. This marks the closest point in the tradition’s history since its inception in 1947.

According to the organization, international cooperation on nuclear weapons, climate change, and biotechnology is declining. The Bulletin expressed concerns over increasing aggression among countries such as Russia, China, and the United States, citing a “winner-takes-all great power competition” emerging instead of global understandings.

The assessment highlighted conflicts in 2025, including the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, clashes between India and Pakistan, and US and Israeli attacks on Iran. On climate change, national and international responses have been deemed insufficient or destructive, with recent UN climate summits failing to emphasize phasing out fossil fuels or monitoring carbon dioxide emissions.

However, the Bulletin noted that renewable energy saw record growth in 2024, with wind and solar power surpassing 40% of global electricity generation for the first time. The organization’s president and CEO, Alexandra Bell, emphasized the need for swift action from leaders to address these issues.

The Doomsday Clock is used to symbolize humanity’s proximity to extinction. Since its inception, the clock has varied between 17 minutes and midnight, with a recent low of three minutes in 1984. The Bulletin’s chair, Daniel Holz, stated that nationalistic autocracies are adding to global threats, highlighting the importance of international trust and cooperation.

The organization’s assessment serves as a warning, urging the global community to demand swift action from their leaders to address these pressing issues.

Source: Al Jazeera