Global catastrophic risk policy

Countries face a set of human-driven global risks that threaten their security, prosperity and potential. In the worst case, these global catastrophic risks could lead to mass harm and societal collapse. The likelihood that a global catastrophe will occur in the next 20 years might be uncertain. But the potential severity means that national governments have a responsibility to their citizens to manage these types of risks.

The mission of GCRpolicy is to positively shape government policy on global catastrophic risks. By 2030, major governments should have in place the measures to understand, prevent, prepare for and respond to global catastrophic risks.

Statements about GCRpolicy

Lord Des Browne, former UK Secretary of State for Defence

“National governments struggle with understanding and developing policy for the elimination or mitigation of extreme risks, including global catastrophic risks. Effective policies may compel fundamental structural reform of political systems, but we do not need, nor do we have the time, to wait for such change. Our leaders can, and must, act now to better understand the global catastrophic risks that are present and developing. This report offers a practical framework for the necessary action.”

Professor Lord Martin Rees, Astronomer Royal and CSER co-founder

“Global problems require global solutions. But countries must also act individually. Without action, these catastrophic risks will only grow over time, whether it be on climate change, ecothreats, synthetic biology or cyber. Governments have a responsibility to act, both to minimise the risk of such events, and to make plans to cope with a catastrophe if it occurred. And those that take the initiative will set a positive example for the rest of the world. Protect your citizens and be a world leader – that decision is available to every country.”