Risks and threats to civilization, humankind, and the earth

Abstract

This paper examines a range of risks threatening humankind, moving beyond the hype surrounding contemporary events like 9/11 and doomsday scenarios based on societal collapse. It critiques the lack of attention to the timeframe and preparation measures for astrophysical catastrophes, while highlighting the real potential of global catastrophe from geophysical and celestial events. The paper introduces a framework for analyzing extreme risks by developing a scale of devastation based on deaths, a comprehensive timeframe encompassing now to the end of Earth, and a set of questions to guide policy decisions and promote systemic thinking.