Holistic reduction. Overarching treatment.
Global Shield’s approach to reducing global catastrophic risk is “all-hazards.” We want governments to look at risk holistically and take actions that will reduce global catastrophic risk as a whole.
All-hazard policy reduces risk across the threat spectrum. It increases our ability to manage a catastrophe triggered by multiple events or one that leads to cascading consequences.
All-hazard policy is more cost effective by managing multiple threats and hazards with shared solutions.
All-hazard policy prepares us for the unexpected and unprecedented. This approach is especially important for reducing the risk from unknown threats and emerging technologies.
It is challenging for governments to effectively manage all these various risk management efforts. So it needs functions that guide, coordinate and oversee GCR policy. It could include the way government is designed to deal with GCR and the policy guidance and strategic planning for GCR.
For example, where does GCR sit within government priorities? Who is responsible for reducing GCR, and how does that affect the rest of their responsibilities? How do efforts to reduce GCR integrate with other risk management efforts, including national security policy or efforts to reduce local natural hazard risk? What processes are required to develop and decide on GCR policy?
Before you can reduce risk, you have to understand it. Governments must take steps to identify, assess and monitor global catastrophic risk.
For example, what are the specific threats and hazards, and how does government prioritize between them? What are our vulnerabilities? How should risk be tracked and monitored? How does government foster scientific and academic expertise to better understand the risk? How concerned should government be about “black swans” and the unknown unknowns in the risk profile?
Global catastrophic risk is so severe that preventing it in the first place will be key. Risk prevention is ultimately about reducing the likelihood that the threats or hazards occur. While threat-specific approaches are needed here, so too are ways to prevent multiple threats and hazards at the same time.
For example, how should malicious actors be steered away from developing and using potentially harmful technologies? How should governments incentivise private industry to reduce risky behaviors and increase safety-conscious ones? How can tensions between great powers be reduced and space created for engagement on reducing GCR?
If a global catastrophe were to occur, humanity must be as prepared as possible. Risk preparedness is about reducing the vulnerability of critical systems like governance, food, water, and other basic services to risk. Forward thinking policy and preparations can ensure that threats and hazards have a reduced impact, and certainly do not cause systems to collapse.
For example, how do governments build resilience in food, health and economic systems? How do governments maintain critical infrastructure in the face of catastrophe? What are the contingency and scenario plans? How can government ensure that their processes and decision-making continue to function?
If a global catastrophe occurs, governments need to respond and recover quickly. These are the actions they take during and immediately after the event in order to reduce its impact.
For example, what actions do governments need to prioritize immediately? How can governments rebuild food and energy production? How can infrastructure be repurposed? What political and governance arrangements should be established or reconstituted?
Governments must communicate with citizens and broader society at all stages of GCR reduction, including prevention, preparation and response. As the COVID-19 pandemic showed, communications can be haphazard, muddied, distorted and confused. Governments must have a solid GCR communications plan.
For example, how should governments communicate with citizens without creating fear, apathy or division? Through what methods should governments communicate during a catastrophe with the public and other governments? What information and data do governments need from other stakeholders to inform its own policies?
Governments cannot do it alone. Reducing global catastrophic risk is a whole-of-society and a global effort. It will require engaging, coordinating and partnering with stakeholders across society. It particularly requires collaborating with other governments. The collaboration around GCR reduction will be critical to success.
For example, how should governments engage with the private sector and civil society? What multilateral mechanisms are needed for GCR? How do governments manage risk that originates from outside its control?
Global Shield is an international advocacy organization devoted to reducing global catastrophic risk from all threats and hazards.
Global Shield is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, fiscally sponsored by Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs (SEE). Our organization’s growth and international outreach will depend on continued support from donors, and we appreciate any support you can provide.
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