World warned to ‘pay attention’ on day Doomsday Clock could tick closer to midnight

Experts have said it’s important to pay attention (Picture: Getty)

Today the world will find out if we’re a step closer to Armageddon.

The annual Doomsday Clock announcement will be made this afternoon – and this year, the world has been warned to ‘pay attention’.

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists created the Doomsday Clock in 1947 in the wake of the first atomic weapons, to convey threats to humanity and the planet.

Last year, the clock was moved to just 90 seconds to midnight – the closest it’s ever been since the yearly announcements began.

In last year’s setting of the clock, the conflict in Ukraine and threats of nuclear weapons in the ongoing war were cited as reasons for the chosen time.

This year, increased tensions between China and Taiwan, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the war between Israel and Gaza are just a few of the concerns expected to be highlighted.

The ongoing conflict in Gaza is one worry as the clock is set (Picture: AFP)

Threats from Russia of using a nuclear weapon in Ukraine are also worrying (Picture: AFP)

Worries of nuclear powers beginning testing or using weapons have heightened (Picture: Bettman)

Attacks on shipping vessels in the Red Sea have also become more frequent, sparking fears of a supply chain issue and further problems with the global food chain.

Rachel Bronson, the president and CEO of the  Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, works to oversee the clock each year.

She told Metro.co.uk: ‘Each year, we ask two questions. Is humanity safer, or at greater risk this year, compared to last year when we last set it? 

‘And is humanity safer, or at greater risk this year compared to the last 75 plus years?’

To make a decision on where to set the clock’s time, Ms Bronson said the Bulletin reviews key events in the last year to come up with a ‘blunt measure’ – a clock time – to work out how near humanity is to disaster.

But Ms Bronson said she hopes that rather than spark panic, the clock time would instead generate valuable discussions about our future, and make change happen.

The clock is currently set to just 90 seconds from midnight (Picture: AFP)

North Korea has begun testing various weapons (Picture: KCNA)

She added: ‘How do you sustain those conversations throughout the year?

‘We know that there’s a lot of issues competing for people’s attention, but by starting the conversation in January, what we hope is that over the course of the year, people check back in with us or counterpart organizations that are working on it to think about ways that they can make a difference, even if it feels small.’

Eryn MacDonald is an expert in international security, arms control and nonproliferation, as well as a member of the Union of Concerned Scientists.

She spoke to Metro.co.uk about the setting of the clock and how international security factors into the decision.

She said: ‘Things are not getting better, they seem to be getting worse instead, unfortunately. But paying attention to these things actually does matter, that’s helped in the past. 

‘People are paying more attention to these issues than they have been for a very long time.

The clock time has been moved forward and backwards (Picture: Getty)

Russia withdrew from a nuclear treaty this year – sparking worries that they may begin nuclear testing again (Picture: Reuters)

‘Unfortunately, that’s because it’s gotten a lot more dangerous again, and that’s kind of when people start to pay attention.’

Citing issues ranging from major nuclear powers withdrawing from treaties to conflict in Ukraine and the Middle East, Ms MacDonald said it’s ‘inevitable’ that we’re at the beginning of a ‘new arms race’ similar to that during the Cold War.

But she emphasized that in the past, the clock has been moved back – and by paying attention to the world now, it’s possible to still make change.

Ms Bronson added: ‘We hope there’s an optimistic message that the clock has moved forward and back over the last 75 plus years, so we can move it back. 

‘We’ve done it before we can do it again. I think the challenge for this generation is that it feels like it’s not clear what anyone can do – but just engaging on the issues really does matter.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

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Each year, a group of scientists ask themselves if humanity is more or less safe than this time last year.