Global scientific reports warn of existential threats and climate instability

A report by The Lancet Commission on Global Health Threats for the 21st Century identifies 17 interconnected risks that could threaten human survival over the next 75 years. The study, which evaluated 204 countries, categorizes these threats into a four-level pyramid. At the highest level of existential risk are the malicious use of artificial intelligence to develop biological weapons and the potential for nuclear conflict leading to global collapse and famine.

Secondary threats include climate change, extreme atmospheric pollution, and antimicrobial resistance, which could double the public health impact seen in recent pandemics. The report warns that these factors act synergistically, creating a devastating domino effect.

Separately, the 2026 State of the Climate report published in BioScience indicates that seven of the 16 vital signs for planetary health are in an alarming state. Researchers note that global warming is accelerating, with temperature increases rising from 0.05 degrees per decade (1880–1970) to 0.36 degrees per decade since 2010. Fossil fuel consumption reached record highs in 2025, and atmospheric CO2 concentrations exceeded 428 parts per million in May 2026, a level approximately 50% higher than pre-industrial levels.