The Doomsday Clock has been set at 89 seconds to midnight for 2025, the closest it has ever been to global catastrophe, according to the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. The advocacy group cited escalating threats from nuclear war, the climate crisis, and the unchecked rise of artificial intelligence.
The clock, which symbolises humanity's proximity to self-destruction, was moved forward from 85 seconds in 2024. The scientists pointed to increasing aggression and nationalism among major powers, including Russia, China, and the United States, as key factors driving the heightened risk.
Specific concerns include the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, tensions between India and Pakistan, and the potential for Iran to develop nuclear weapons following strikes by the US and Israel. The group also highlighted the failure of nations to adopt meaningful climate agreements, singling out efforts to boost fossil fuels and hobble renewable energy.
Daniel Holz, chair of the group's science and security board, warned that a 'winner-takes-all' approach to global competition undermines the cooperation needed to reduce existential risks. 'If the world splinters into an us-versus-them, zero-sum approach, it increases the likelihood that we all lose,' he said.
The clock, first introduced in 1947, has fluctuated over the decades, standing at 17 minutes to midnight at the end of the Cold War. The group noted that the clock could be turned back if leaders and nations work together to address these threats.
