Between climate change, global warming, heated politics, international relations, and a seemingly increasing interest in nuclear weapons, the world is headed in a dangerous direction.

To put a measure on just how bad things are getting, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists created the Doomsday Clock – and we’re closer to total destruction than at any other point in time since the clock was created.

Each year, since its creation in 1947, recognized leaders from around the world with a focus on nuclear risk, Climate change, and disruptive technologies, have come together to gauge just how close to global destruction we’re at. They take into account Climate change, the creation of dangerous technologies, and political tensions, among other things, and represent the data using a figurate clock. The Doomsday Clock represents the time we have left, with Doomsday, the end of civilization, striking at midnight.

As of 2022, it’s 100 seconds to midnight.

spoiler we're all doomed #DoomsdayClock pic.twitter.com/4NjrWzjQuC

— Monica Rose (@ElleRows) January 20, 2022

According to the report released by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, “the clock remains the closest it has ever been to civilization-ending apocalypse because the world remains stuck in an extremely dangerous moment.”

They noted that the change in US leadership in 2021 played a key role in helping the current situation in the world, but it wasn’t enough to reverse the damages that have already been done. They wrote, “Global leaders and the public are not moving with anywhere near the speed or unity needed to prevent disaster.”

Current issues highlighted by the report include nuclear interest from the Middle East, North Korea, and possibly China; as well as anti-satellite weapons testing by Russia and China. Climate change is another leading cause of concern, with not enough action being taken by governments and individuals. Biological warfare was also drawn to the forefront thanks to COVID-19 and the world’s poor response to a pandemic, along with disruptive technology and the spread of misinformation.

Things may sound hopeless, but there are steps we can take as individuals to move the world away from Doomsday.

Read more about ways you can make a difference by switching to a plant-based diet, saying no to animal agriculture, reducing your waste, thrifting instead of shopping, and using green energy whenever possible. 

Related Content:

• What the ‘Doomsday’ Seed Vault Tells Us About the Future of Food Security
• Earth Black Box to Document Climate Crisis for Future Generations
• Scientists Say Climate Change Has Reached the ‘Point of No Return’

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