Record of the workshop on policy foresight and global catastrophic risks

Abstract

On 21 July 2008, the Policy Foresight Programme, in conjunction with the Future of Humanity Institute, hosted a day-long workshop on “Policy Foresight and Global Catastrophic Risks” at the James Martin 21st Century School at the University of Oxford. This document provides a record of the day’s discussion. Sir Crispin Tickell chaired the day’s events, and began by noting that the purpose of the day was to bring together academics and policymakers to promote discussion on the actions that governments, and in particular the British government, could take now to create a more resilient society in the face of catastrophes. A list of the major recommendations to come out of the workshop is presented in the box to the right. This workshop immediately followed a three-day conference on Global Catastrophic Risks, organised by the Future of Humanity Institute and held at the University of Oxford.