Doomsday Clock moved to 90 seconds to midnight.
The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists has moved it’s iconic Doomsday Clock to 90 seconds to midnight.
The Doomsday Clock is set by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists which includes 10 Nobel Laureates.
Previously, the Doomsday Clock had been set at 100 seconds to midnight since 2020.
In explaining its decision to move the clock hands closer to midnight than it has ever been, the Bulletin points to not only the escalating war in Ukraine. They also make note of “bio-threats, nuclear proliferation, climate crisis, state-sponsored disinformation and disruptive technologies.”
This year, the Science and Security Board of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists moves the hands of the Doomsday Clock forward, largely (though not exclusively) because of the mounting dangers of the war in Ukraine. The Clock now stands at 90 seconds to midnight—the closest to global catastrophe it has ever been.
The war in Ukraine may enter a second horrifying year, with both sides convinced they can win. Ukraine’s sovereignty and broader European security arrangements that have largely held since the end of World War II are at stake. Also, Russia’s war on Ukraine has raised profound questions about how states interact, eroding norms of international conduct that underpin successful responses to a variety of global risks.
Mary Robinson, Chair of The Elders and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said:
“The Doomsday Clock is sounding an alarm for the whole of humanity. We are on the brink of a precipice. But our leaders are not acting at sufficient speed or scale to secure a peaceful and liveable planet.”
The Bulletin’ scientists write:
The Russia-Ukraine War’s effects are not limited to an increase in nuclear danger; they also undermine global efforts to combat climate change. Countries dependent on Russian oil and gas have sought to diversify their supplies and suppliers, leading to expanded investment in natural gas exactly when such investment should have been shrinking.
Whenever I have written about the need for de-escalation of the war in Ukraine and for peace talks to begin I have often been met with the response that there is nothing to negotiate.
Frequently I am met with the argument that the war must go on until there is regime change in Russia.
The scientists of the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists clearly disagree.
The US government, its NATO allies, and Ukraine have a multitude of channels for dialogue; they all should be explored. Finding a path to serious peace negotiations could go a long way toward reducing the risk of escalation. In this time of unprecedented global danger, concerted action is required, and every second counts.
It seems obvious that world governments are doing too little too late.
Perhaps it is more accurate to say that capitalist pressures on world governments are assuring that nearly nothing of consequence is being done to alleviate the climate crisis and other issues mentioned here.