Global catastrophic risks are putting unprecedented pressure on society and our planet, jeopardizing life on Earth a new report warns.

Launched today, the Global Catastrophic Risks Report 2026, has said improved global governance is urgently needed to secure the planet’s future.

The report, produced by the Global Challenges Foundation, covers five catastrophic global risks – climate change, biodiversity collapse, weapons of mass destruction, artificial intelligence (AI) in military decision-making and near Earth asteroids.

It added while the probability of each of these risks occurring varies, the impact for large parts of humanity is enormous.

“Man-made risks such as climate changes, biodiversity collapse, weapons of mass destruction and the military use of artificial intelligence cannot be addressed in isolated silos. As climate and environment become increasingly intertwined with peace and security, we need a paradigm shift in international cooperation – one that bridges silos and reflects today’s interconnected risks,” said Jens Orback, strategic advisor, Global Challenges Foundation.

The report is written by some of the world’s leading minds in their respective fields. All of the authors call for better governance. More specifically, governance systems that foster adaptability, connectivity and inclusivity. Global governance systems must also respect the international laws in place while also modernising international law when there are gaps.

“Rather than turning inward toward nationalism and isolation, we must rebuild trust in the rules, institutions and norms that still hold while modernising them to meet new realities,” the study stated. “Strengthening accountability, reforming international law and giving global systems the capacity to act is essential to restoring legitimacy and effectiveness.”

Orback explained: “Our planetary commons -the shared systems that sustain life – have a weak voice in our decision-making systems. Space, the deep sea, freshwater, forests, and ice are not the infinite resources we once imagined but are part of a delicate balance, providing us with a life-sustaining environment.

“Never did I think that the Greenland Ice Sheet had anything to do with my future. Yet, human activities have affected ice sheets and other commons to such a degree that they will, inevitably, affect us all.”

He continued: “The purpose of this report is to stimulate open debate on how to understand, address and mitigate these risks. Civil society must be part of policymaking to protect ecosystems, and non-nuclear states must have a voice in nuclear risk-reduction discussions — especially those already affected by cross-border threats.

“Measures to adapt the current system of multilateral co-operation to handle these risks are seldom straightforward. Our patterns of production and consumption, as well as our ability to prevent and handle conflicts, remain misaligned with a sustainable and safe world. It can be tempting to seek purely technical solutions or attempt to out-arm one’s neighbour.

“We can see this today in the ongoing arms race around autonomous weapon systems. Establishing a meaningful, legally binding instrument to govern autonomous weapons development and use feels as urgent as it is complex and difficult. Additionally, our planetary commons cannot be negotiated with. The Greenland Ice Sheet, for example, does not respond to threats but to temperature.”