End of the World Clock: why it is dangerous to have 90 minutes to midnight

The Doomsday Clock, also known as the Doomsday Clock, is a visual metaphor created by the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists in 1947. This symbolic clock represents humanity’s proximity to a global catastrophe, with midnight symbolizing the apocalypse. .

The time on the clock is adjusted annually, reflecting current threats facing the world, such as nuclear risk, climate change, and other disruptive technologies.

The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists was founded in 1945 by Albert Einstein and other scientists who participated in the Manhattan Project, the research and development program that produced the first nuclear weapons during World War II. Two years later, in 1947, these scientists introduced the Doomsday Clock as a way to warn the public and world leaders about the dangers of nuclear weapons and, later, other global threats.

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The purpose of the watch is to serve as a wake-up call about the urgency of addressing these threats. Each year, the Science and Safety Board of the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, which includes experts in various disciplines, assesses the state of the world and Decide whether to move the clock hands closer or further away from midnight. This process is based on a rigorous evaluation of global events and trends.

Why does the world’s clock read 90 seconds to midnight?

In January 2023, the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists set the clock to 90 seconds to midnight, the closest point to the apocalypse in the clock’s history. This decision reflects a time of unprecedented danger, driven by a combination of factors including the war in Ukraine, the proliferation of nuclear weapons, climate change, and disinformation.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has been a significant factor in setting the clock. This conflict has not only caused humanitarian devastation, but has also increased the risk of nuclear escalation. Russia’s veiled threats to use nuclear weapons have revived Cold War fears and raised the possibility of a third world war.

AFP PHOTO / Hastings Group Media

The war in Ukraine has also destabilized European security and had global repercussions, exacerbating international tensions.

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The proliferation of nuclear weapons remains a critical threat. Despite disarmament efforts, several countries continue to develop and modernize their nuclear arsenals. The lack of progress in reducing these weapons and rising geopolitical tensions have contributed to the decision to move the clock’s hands closer to midnight.

Climate change is another existential threat that has influenced the setting of the clock. Bulletin scientists have noted that the effects of climate change, such as rising global temperatures, extreme weather events and biodiversity loss, are occurring at an alarming rate. The lack of effective action by governments to mitigate these effects has been a constant concern.

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How to turn back the Doomsday Clock?

According to the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, “as a first step, and despite their deep disagreements, three of the main world powers –The United States, China and Russia – should begin a serious dialogue about each of the global threats described. At the highest level, these three countries must take responsibility for the existential danger facing the world today. They have the ability to pull the world away from the brink of catastrophe. They must do so with clarity and courage, and without delay.”