The doomsday clock has moved thirty seconds closer to midnight from two and a half, to just two minutes to midnight.
The clock is set by scientists to reflect current threats to the continued survival of humans on earth and the impacts of climate change are pushing us closer to midnight.
This is not the first time that the famous clock has offered so little hope. In 1953, when the United States was developing the hydrogen bomb, a weapon even more dangerous than the nuclear one, the clock also reached two minutes to midnight.
At the time of its launch in 1947, the main threat humanity was facing was nuclear war. Nowadays climate change and its repercussions have joined the determining factors of the doomsday clock’s settings.
There is now widespread agreement about the danger that climate change represents for humanity. In the Global Risk Report 2018, published earlier this year by the World Economic Forum, climate is the major challenge featured, made it in the top two for likelihood and impactful eventuality that could happen in 2018.
The report lists the various natural catastrophes that affected us last year, such as “unusually frequent Atlantic hurricanes” and “three high-impact storms—Harvey, Irma and Maria”.
The question is now what countries will do to ensure they meet their commitments to the Paris Climate Agreement. One summit after another governments promise great change it is now time to act to ensure a sustainable future to next generations.
We have decided to make France a model in the fight against climate change. We have already attracted hundreds of projects thanks to the #MakeOurPlanetGreatAgain program. #WEF2018 https://t.co/WMo5kBKMU1
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) January 24, 2018
Calling for action from citizens and governments while presenting the clock, Dr Rachel Bronson, President & CEO of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists said:
“It is urgent that, collectively, we put in the work necessary to produce a 2019 Clock statement that rewinds the Doomsday Clock. Get engaged, get involved, and help create that future. The time is now.”