Assessment of Catastrophic Risks that Demand Preparedness

The Global Challenges Foundation recently released its annual report on what it assesses to be the greatest risks facing humanity in the 21st century, calling attention to a series of potential catastrophic scenarios that necessitate and inform preparedness activities. The report, Global Catastrophic Risks 2021: Navigating the Complex Intersections, identifies ten major existential risks and divides them into three categories: current risks from human action, natural catastrophes, and emerging risks. The recognized existential risks include weapons of mass destruction, climate change, ecological collapse, pandemics, asteroid impacts, and artificial intelligence among others.

Looking at potential manifestations of biological and chemical warfare attacks, the report highlights the potential for toxic chemicals to be used to contaminate water supplies. In addition, virtually every critical infrastructure sector could suffer severe impacts or possibly become non-operational from the other risks cities in the report, which include nuclear weapons, catastrophic climate change, pandemics, , or a nefarious artificial intelligence system. In its discussion of pandemics, for example, it notes that failures of water or wastewater systems could contribute to outbreaks. While the report features a series of specific recommendations for world leaders, the scenarios it portends can be used to help inform risk assessments and preparedness activities. Access the full report here.