There are numerous existential threats facing the planet now. They range in age from the past through more recent times to those looming in the not-too-distant future. When all the dangers are taken into account, the prediction does undoubtedly make one feel gloomy. Any amount of good news cannot eliminate the potential of a gloomy future. Humans cause all of these dangers and are unintended results of our insatiable desire for comfort and financial possessions.
The first danger is an old one: using nuclear weapons in a setting of armed conflict would result in widespread devastation. More nations than ever before possess an increasing amount of lethal weapons. The political leadership in the majority of these countries does not exhibit the maturity and accountability that having these weapons demands. There are numerous associated concerns. Nuclear weapons could be self-made by rogue terrorists, which is a feasible and relatively inexpensive task. Knowing that not all atomic weapons are adequately accounted for is alarming. A catastrophe is not ruled out even if there hasn’t been a mishap. Geopolitical tensions between Russia and Ukraine, North Korea and the United States of America, and India and Pakistan are just a few flashpoints that could erupt at anytime.
There are numerous existential threats. The possibility of a nuclear catastrophe is made worse by countries turning home and away from international cooperation in favour of more insular ideologies where xenophobia and anti-immigrant sentiment are deeply ingrained. This obnoxious form of nationalism endures and thrives thanks to political hysteria from autocratic rulers. There is no need to fear a return to the 1980s despite the tension surrounding the effects of the 20th century’s and this century’s first decade’s retreat from globalization. That is no longer feasible. Customers have shown a tremendous thirst for products and services from throughout the globe. That was largely made possible by new global supply chains. Now that protectionism is becoming a popular political position, supply chains are fractured, and domestic industrial systems have not yet been changed. As a result, inflationary pressures have increased globally, as well as production costs. Production growth is sluggish, and even in some developed nations with robust economies, there are clear signs of a recession.A disturbed financial system and the current state of the world economy are here to stay, at least temporarily.
The usage of fossil fuels, another threat, has increased due to the enchantment of economic expansion and material wealth, resulting in steadily rising carbon emissions. The threat of climate change is increasing more imminent due to the unabated rise in emissions. The majority of credible climate experts today think that the average temperature increase will probably be closer to 2° Celsius than 1.5° Celsius. Right now, it’s impossible to exclude a rise of even 3 degrees Celsius by the end of the century. Climate tipping points is another threat are clearly closer than we once thought, as evidenced by the effects of climate change and the accompanying unpredictable and extreme weather phenomena. Of the many environmental risks on the horizon, climate change is perhaps the most significant. As a result of the great growth narrative, the usage and loss of vital natural resources like fresh water, soil nutrients, forest cover, biodiversity, minerals, and ocean ecosystems through acidification have increased significantly. There has been no progress in reducing carbon emissions despite numerous international conferences and accords. The Paris Agreement’s goals won’t be met as of yet, given how the world’s countries are doing. Economic growth cannot be sustained.
The threat from the new technologies of artificial intelligence and threat from the machine learning is last but certainly not least. It seems like an enticing answer to many of humanity’s problems with health, education, and effective governance. With the benefit of hindsight, it has often been asserted that new technologies are first always suspected of displacing people from their occupations. All new technology has, however, ultimately increased work opportunities and simplified daily living for people. The new technology this time around differs fundamentally from the more established ones, including the initial wave of the information and communication technology revolution. These new technologies can let a gadget to make independent decisions rather than always adhering to the set of guidelines provided to it during training. In this way, it deprives people of something. The new technologies can also be inventive and come up with original ideas on their own. The new machines will have autonomy and agency, in contrast to the full range of machines that humans have understood and utilized since the Stone Age. They will eventually be able to learn and make decisions for themselves. According to the principles of evolution, they will eventually dominate humans and may supplant us as the dominant species on the globe. Some scientists claim that if their IQ were compared to ours, it would be like comparing our brains to that of frogs. Additionally, we do not value frogs’ intelligence very much.
The cumulative effect of these risks and threats, as they get more serious over time, can be extremely lethal. All of these dangers widen openings. Insecurities are afterwards produced by these vulnerabilities. First of all, there will be a gradual increase in insecurities of all kinds, which will show themselves in daily life. Uncertainty about the loss of economic stability, unease about fatal diseases, unease about calamities like floods and fires, unease about displacement, but most of all, unease about physical pain and death. Despite the tremendous increase in income and wealth disparities around the world over the past century, both the wealthy and the poor will experience these fears. The bell will eventually ring for the wealthy as well; they may be able to protect themselves for a little while longer than the poor.
There are numerous existential threats. Faced with a range of challenges and threat, human behaviour frequently exhibits a strong defensiveness and is another threat. Thinking frequently turns short-term, self-centred, and survival-oriented. A different behavioural reaction is to think that the threats are exaggerated and not immediately serious. Then there is a noticeable propensity for individuals to completely ignore them or give them exceptionally low probabilities of occurring. Such threats are utilized in the political sphere to prey on growing weaknesses and insecurities. People seek diversion or protection from danger. A political saviour who can divert attention from the dangers of the present in any way would be regarded as a messiah. A charismatic false prophet who can make people lose sight of their true situation can gain control of the situation quickly. Additionally, people willfully embrace greater authoritarianism and control, abdicating responsibility for their own lives in the process. The need to think freely is discouraged by the culture of fear and worry as a whole. There is no opposition to the totalitarian suppression of debate and dissent. Most people don’t want to accept the unpleasant news. Instead, they wear a smile on their faces and a leader’s badge on their chests in the brave new world of forgetfulness.
