Global catastrophic risk

High school (ages 12+)
Environment & Earth

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/global-catastrophic-risk

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the organizational focus?Academic and non-profit organizations established to research GCRs and formulate mitigation measures
2. What is the primary period of formal research?21st century
3. How is an existential risk different from a global catastrophic risk?An existential risk could end humanity or stop its future progress, while a global catastrophic risk may devastate civilization but not necessarily wipe out humanity.
4. Why do scientists study global catastrophic risks?They want to understand how these events could happen so they can plan ways to prevent or lessen them, keeping people safe.

Global Catastrophic Risk: A potential event with the capacity to cause widespread devastation to human civilization on a planetary scale.
Existential Risk: A risk that threatens the permanent end of humanity or its future potential for development and flourishing.
Mitigation Measures: Strategies and actions designed to reduce the probability or impact of catastrophic events.