The Doomsday Clock remains at 90 seconds to midnight, the experts predicting the likelihood of a global catastrophe have said.

It comes after a year that saw conflict in Ukraine rage on and war in the Middle East flare up.

Scientists say there is a "continuing unprecedented level of risk" from threats including war, the climate crisis and the "dramatic advance" of AI.

The countdown is a metaphor for global collapse agreed on by experts at the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.
In 2023, the clock was set at 90 seconds to midnight - the closest to global collapse it has ever been.

While the clock has not edged closer to midnight this year, scientists warned that was not an indication of stability.

Rachel Bronson, president of the bulletin, said: "Make no mistake: resetting the clock at 90 seconds to midnight is not an indication that the world is stable. Quite the opposite.

"It's urgent for governments and communities around the world to act," she added, saying the board was "inspired" by younger generations leading the charge.

"The war in Ukraine and the widespread and growing reliance on nuclear weapons increase the risk of nuclear escalation," the board said in a statement.

"China, Russia, and the United States are all spending huge sums to expand or modernise their nuclear arsenals, adding to the ever-present danger of nuclear war through mistake or miscalculation."

It also pointed to the threat of the climate crisis, with 2023 the hottest year on record and "massive floods, wildfires, and other climate-related disasters affect[ing] millions of people around the world".

Other influencing factors were "rapid and worrisome developments in the life sciences" and the advance of AI, both of which the board said governments were making only "feeble attempts" to control.

Governor Jerry Brown, executive chair of the bulletin, compared world leaders to the Titanic's crew, "steering the world toward catastrophe-more nuclear bombs, vast carbon emissions, dangerous pathogens, and artificial intelligence".

"Only the big powers like China, America, and Russia can pull us back. Despite deep antagonisms, they must cooperate - or we are doomed."

Doomsday Clock unchanged at 90 seconds to midnight - amid 'unprecedented level of risk' | World News | Sky News