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The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists has just announced that the Doomsday Clock has been moved forward to 85 seconds to midnight, the closest it has ever been to the time that signifies the end of humanity.
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The decision takes into account there are ongoing conflicts involving nuclear-armed states in Ukraine and the Middle East, the expiry of the last arms control agreement between Russia and the US, the acceleration of the arms race with continued modernisation of arsenals by the nuclear-armed states, and advances in artificial intelligence that exacerbate the risk of conflict when applied to lethal weapons systems, alongside failure of the international community to take stronger action on climate change. The Nobel Peace Prize-winning International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, ICAN, is calling on the nuclear-armed states to heed this warning and demonstrate responsible leadership by acting on their stated commitment to disarm and realise a world without nuclear weapons. Melissa Parke, ICAN’s Executive Director said: “The Doomsday Clock is not a prediction, it’s a warning. Nuclear weapons, wars from Ukraine to Gaza, the climate crisis and runaway technologies are all part of the problem – but they are all created by humanity. That means we can also change course. The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) is a clear path to turn back the hands of the clock.” As of today, 99 countries have either signed or ratified the TPNW which is a majority of states. The nuclear-armed countries and their allies which endorse the use of nuclear weapons in their defence are the minority and are under increasing diplomatic pressure to join the treaty. The Bulletin’s panel of experts set the time on the basis of their assessment of the current level of risk of annihilation from the human-made threats from nuclear weapons, climate change and disruptive technologies, particularly artificial intelligence. |
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For more information and interview requests contact: Alistair Burnett, Head of Media, ICAN +41 78 238 7179 [email protected] |
Further reading:
Almost three quarters of Swedes support joining UN Nuclear Ban Treaty and two thirds oppose hosting nuclear weapons – new poll finds
ICAN endorses Nobel Laureates’ Rome Declaration on AI and Nuclear Weapons
NATO leaders need to understand more nuclear weapons make them less safe – ICAN
Tonga becomes 100th country to join UN Nuclear Ban Treaty
Global spending on nuclear weapons increased 19% in 2025 to reach its highest recorded level at $118.8 billion
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