Pavel Nováček warns of environmental risks and need for foresight

Docent Pavel Nováček of the Faculty of Science at the University of Pardubice discussed the concept of foresight – the study of possible future scenarios – in a recent interview. He highlighted that foresight is not about predicting exact events but about preparing for a range of outcomes, including both risks and opportunities.

Nováček reflected on past crises such as the COVID‑19 pandemic, the war near the Czech Republic, and migration waves, noting that societies were repeatedly caught unprepared. Citing Nassim Nicholas Taleb’s idea of the "black swan," he urged societies to become antifragile, able to grow stronger from unexpected shocks. Looking ahead, he warned that the next major challenges will likely stem from environmental degradation and biodiversity loss, urging proactive measures to mitigate these threats.