Researchers name countries best placed to withstand a global catastrophe
A study in the scientific journal Global Challenges identifies Australia as one of the most resilient countries in a global crisis. The researchers stress that no place on Earth is completely safe.
A team of researchers has analysed which countries would have the best chances of coping with a global catastrophe that disrupted normal life and threatened human survival. In a study published in the scientific journal Global Challenges, they named Australia as one of the safest places. The work helps show which nations could best maintain food, energy and essential services during a crisis.
Scenarios examined
The authors looked at several possible events: nuclear winter triggered by a nuclear war, major volcanic eruptions, pandemics, cyberattacks and other incidents that could paralyse critical infrastructure and food production.
Why Australia
Australia's main advantage is its geography. It lies far from many potential centres of military conflict, and its extensive farmland allows it to produce large amounts of food. Energy resources, developed industry and the ability to keep key public services running during serious disruption also matter. The researchers emphasise that location alone would not be decisive; economic and social resilience would count as well.
Still, Australia is not fully protected. It continues to rely on international trade for fuel, medicines and fertiliser, so a breakdown in global supply chains would cause serious problems.
Other resilient countries
The researchers also list New Zealand, Japan, Switzerland and Argentina among the more resilient countries. New Zealand benefits from its distance from conflict zones and from agriculture; Japan from developed infrastructure and industry; Switzerland from its public administration and ability to maintain essential functions; and Argentina from large areas of farmland and substantial natural resources. Coastal areas may be threatened by tsunamis, volcanic eruptions can affect climate and food production across a wide region, and all these countries depend to some degree on trade.
No truly safe place
According to the researchers, nowhere on Earth is fully protected from every global catastrophic risk. Rather than looking for somewhere to flee, they say the priority is to strengthen resilience in good time: building food and energy reserves, developing infrastructure and being prepared for crises.
