A group of Australian researchers is calling on Governments around the world to develop a strategy for human survival amid the growing COVID-19 pandemic.
The report, released on Wednesday by the Commission for the Human Future, outlines 10 potentially catastrophic threats to the survival of the human race and what needs to be done to stop them.
The group is made up of scientists, business leaders, public servants and academics who believe Governments need to urgently prepare a plan to deal with these crises after seeing the devastation of the COVID-19 outbreak.
"Coming on the heels of severe climate impacts around the world, including droughts, floods, storms and fires, the coronavirus pandemic is a wake-up call to all of humanity that we need to do things differently…" the report titled Surviving and Thriving in the 21st Century says.
"The pandemic also presents an opportunity to change the way we see our world, how we respond as humans to the self-created dangers we face and the opportunities we can seize or create as we go forward together."
During an online roundtable meeting, the Commission narrowed down the world's main threats to 10. They are:
- climate change
- environmental decline and extinction
- nuclear weapons
- resource scarcity (including water)
- food insecurity
- dangerous new technologies
- overpopulation
- chemical pollution
- pandemic disease
- denial and misinformation
Commission chairman Professor John Hewson says the group found the issues are interconnected.
"This means we must solve them together, not one at a time, and with solutions that make no threat worse. What we are facing now with COVID19 is a dress rehearsal for other threats to come," he said.
"The group also agreed that many practical solutions exist and can easily be implemented to avoid catastrophic consequences in the years ahead.
"What humans do about catastrophic risks in the next decade will determine whether current and future generations will face serious threats to their survival or whether we can build a safer, more prosperous and sustainable future."
The group came up with a range of solutions including a ban on nuclear weapons, minimum emissions reduction targets of 50% by 2030, a ban on any new fossil fuel projects, universal laws that protect wildlife and endangered species, a shift to a renewable global food system, and efforts to tackle the influence of vested interests on Governments.
But they said it isn't just up to Governments to make the changes.
"Especially, we recognise that solutions to the great risks depend not just on government policy and corporate activity, but also on the actions of billions of individual humans in their daily lives," the report says.
"Much of our present behaviour has to change if civilization is to survive and prosper."
The report said the simple changes the public has had to make during the COVID-19 pandemic such as wearing masks, stop touching other people, isolation, and more show that change is possible if the public believes in its importance.
They said if the risks can be solved there is opportunity Hewson says if they can be fixed, the benefits are "enormous" for wellbeing, development, stability, peace and renewal for the world.
