Doomsday Clock ticks closer: A grim 89 seconds to midnight
The Doomsday Clock now reads just 89 seconds to midnight, highlighting how perilously close we are to self-destruction.
The Doomsday Clock, created by physicists in the aftermath of World War II, symbolises humanity's proximity to total annihilation. The clock's hands are currently set at 89 seconds to midnight, marking the closest point in history. A year ago, the clock displayed 90 seconds to midnight.
The decision to adjust the clock is influenced by several factors. These include nuclear risks, climate change, and developments in technologies such as artificial intelligence. Daniel Holz from the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists stresses that the war in Ukraine and tensions in the Middle East amplify the threat.
Holz notes that China's military pressure near Taiwan and North Korea's ballistic missile tests also add to the uncertainty. There is also concern about the uncontrolled advancement of artificial intelligence, especially its potential use in nuclear weapons.
We have seen insufficient progress in addressing the key challenges, and in many cases this is leading to increasingly negative and worrisome effects, said Holz, quoted by Reuters.
Climate change and its impacts
Climate change is another major factor. The World Meteorological Organisation reports that greenhouse gas concentrations reached a record level in 2023.
Holz emphasises that "setting the Doomsday Clock at 89 seconds to midnight is a warning to all world leaders".
The Doomsday Clock, created by scientists from the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, initially considered only nuclear threats.
Since 2007, it has also included climate change in its assessment. The symbolic time to doomsday changes based on scientists' evaluation of the threats.
