In 2024, the perilous state of humanity intensified, pushing us even closer to global catastrophe. Disturbing trends previously highlighted by the Science and Security Board persisted, yet world leaders and societies at large failed to enact the necessary changes despite clear warning signs. As a result, the Doomsday Clock has been moved from 90 seconds to a mere 89 seconds to midnight – the most precarious position it has ever indicated. It is our deepest hope that global leaders will finally acknowledge the existential threats facing our world and take decisive action to mitigate the dangers posed by nuclear weapons, climate change, the misuse of biological sciences, and the rapid advancement of disruptive technologies.
Moving the clock a single second closer to midnight serves as a stark and urgent warning. With the world teetering on the brink, even a marginal shift should be interpreted as a sign of extreme danger. Every second of inaction in reversing course only escalates the probability of a global disaster. The Clock What Time signifies is not just a measure of seconds, but the dwindling window for effective action.
The looming threat of nuclear conflict remains at the forefront. The war in Ukraine, now entering its third year, casts a long shadow over the world. This conflict carries the ever-present risk of nuclear escalation, whether through a deliberate, rash decision, an accidental event, or a miscalculation. Simultaneously, conflict in the Middle East threatens to erupt into a broader, uncontrollable war with little to no warning. Nuclear-weapon states are expanding and modernizing their arsenals, allocating hundreds of billions of dollars to weapons with the capacity to obliterate civilization. Nuclear arms control agreements are disintegrating, and diplomatic engagement among nuclear powers is woefully inadequate given the imminent dangers. Disturbingly, the idea of developing nuclear weapons is no longer confined to existing nuclear states; non-nuclear nations are increasingly considering acquiring their own arsenals. This trend would undermine decades of nonproliferation efforts and drastically increase the pathways to nuclear war.
The tangible impacts of climate change intensified in the past year, with numerous indicators shattering previous records, including alarming sea-level rise and unprecedented global surface temperatures. Global greenhouse gas emissions, the primary driver of climate change, continued their upward trajectory. Extreme weather events and other climate change-related disasters – encompassing floods, devastating tropical cyclones, intense heat waves, prolonged droughts, and raging wildfires – impacted every continent across the globe. The long-term outlook for global efforts to combat climate change remains bleak. The majority of governments are failing to implement the necessary financial and policy measures to effectively halt global warming. While the growth of solar and wind energy is encouraging, it remains insufficient to adequately stabilize the climate system. Recent electoral campaigns suggest that climate change is, worryingly, considered a low priority in the United States and numerous other nations, despite the critical clock what time it is for action.
In the biological sphere, the persistent threat of emerging and re-emerging diseases continues to endanger global economies, societies, and security. The unusual off-season and sustained in-season presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), its transmission to farm animals and dairy products, coupled with confirmed human cases, has created a significant risk of a devastating human pandemic. High-containment biological laboratories continue to proliferate worldwide, but the oversight and regulatory frameworks governing them are lagging behind. This gap increases the potential for accidental escapes of pathogens with pandemic potential. Rapid advancements in artificial intelligence have also introduced new biological risks, raising the specter that terrorist groups or hostile nations could develop biological weapons for which effective countermeasures are nonexistent.
Furthermore, a range of other disruptive technologies advanced in the past year, contributing to a more dangerous world. Military targeting systems incorporating artificial intelligence have already been deployed in conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. Several nations are actively pursuing the integration of artificial intelligence into their military operations. These developments raise critical questions about the extent to which autonomous machines will be entrusted with military decision-making, including decisions that could result in mass casualties and even the potential use of nuclear weapons. Escalating tensions among major world powers are increasingly manifesting in space-based competition. China and Russia are actively developing anti-satellite capabilities. The United States has publicly accused Russia of testing a satellite carrying a dummy warhead, suggesting potential plans to deploy nuclear weapons in orbit, further pushing forward the clock what time signals.
The dangers outlined above are significantly amplified by a potent threat multiplier: the widespread dissemination of misinformation, disinformation, and dangerous conspiracy theories. These forces degrade the global communication ecosystem and increasingly obscure the crucial distinction between truth and falsehood. Advances in AI are making it exponentially easier to spread fabricated or inauthentic information across the internet and simultaneously more difficult to detect and counter it. Nation-states are actively engaged in cross-border disinformation campaigns and other forms of propaganda aimed at subverting democratic elections. Alarmingly, some technology, media, and political leaders are actively contributing to the spread of blatant lies and baseless conspiracy theories. This systemic corruption of the information ecosystem fundamentally undermines public discourse and the honest debate that are essential for a functioning democracy. This damaged information landscape is also fostering the rise of leaders who dismiss scientific evidence and actively suppress free speech and fundamental human rights, further compromising the fact-based public discussions that are urgently needed to confront the immense threats facing the world and understand the critical clock what time we are facing.
Continuing blindly down the current path is nothing short of madness. The United States, China, and Russia collectively possess the power to destroy human civilization. These three nations bear the primary responsibility to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. They can achieve this if their leaders engage in serious, good-faith discussions about the global threats detailed here. Despite their deep and significant disagreements, taking this crucial first step without delay is paramount. The fate of the world hinges on immediate and decisive action.
The clock what time is showing is 89 seconds to midnight. Time is running out.
Editor’s note: Additional information on the threats posed by nuclear weapons, climate change, biological events, and the misuse of other disruptive technologies can be found elsewhere on this page and in the full PDF / print version of the Doomsday Clock statement.
