Doomsday Clock at 90 seconds to midnight. Source : Jamie Christiani/Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
The 2023 Doomsday Clock has been moved by atomic scientists to 90 seconds to midnight, placing the world in “a time of unprecedented danger”.
The Doomsday Clock was created by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists in 1947 to illustrate how close the world is to being destroyed.
The hands have only been changed 25 times since it debuted, with it’s last change being in 2020 where it was set to “100 seconds to midnight”.
Midnight refers to the “doomsday” that the clock is measuring, which is largely based on significant global events such as wards and the Covid-19 pandemic.
President and CEO of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists Rachel Bronson, PhD, said the danger level is unprecedented, and the decision to move the clock to the closest it’s been to doomsday since its creation was not taken lightly.
“We are living in a time of unprecedented danger, and the Doomsday Clock time reflects that reality.” Dr Bronson said.
“90 seconds to midnight is the closest the clock has ever been set to midnight, and it’s a decision our experts do not take lightly.
“The US government, its NATO allies, and Ukraine have a multitude of channels for dialogue; we urge leaders to explore all of them to their fullest ability to turn back the clock.” She said.
The last time the clock was turned back was in 2012, where it was changed from 6 minutes to midnight in 2010, to 5 minutes to midnight.
A statement released by the bulletin as the Doomsday Clock statement said the Russia-Ukraine war and the threat of possible nuclear escalation was the main push to setting the clock at 90 seconds.
“Russia’s war on Ukraine has raised profound questions about how states interact, eroding norms of international conduct that underpin successful responses to a variety of global risks.” The statement said.
“And worst of all, Russia’s thinly veiled threats to use nuclear weapons remind the world that escalation of conflict—by accident, intention, or miscalculation—is a terrible risk.
“The possibility that the conflict could spin out of anyone’s control remains high…Russia has also brought its war to the Chernobyl and Zaporizhzhia nuclear reactor sites, violating international protocols and risking widespread release of radioactive materials.
“Efforts by the international Atomic Energy Agency to secure these plants so far have been rebuffed.” It said.
Chair of The Elders and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson said the Doomsday Clock is important to pay attention to and global issues should not be ignored.
“The Doomsday Clock is sounding an alarm for the whole of humanity.” Ms Robinson said.
“We are on the brink of a precipice.
“But our leaders are not acting at sufficient speed or scale to secure a peaceful and liveable planet.
“From cutting carbon emissions to strengthening arms control treaties and investing in pandemic preparedness, we know what needs to be done.
“The science is clear, but the political will is lacking.
“This much change in 2023 if we are to avert catastrophe.
“We are facing multiple, existential crises.” She said.
The furthest the clock has been set from midnight was in 1991, where it was set to 17 minutes to midnight.
