The World Teeters on the Brink of Catastrophe, Warns Acclaimed Theoretical Scientist

Nafiz Ahmet, a distinguished member of the Club of Rome, the Earth4All Commission on Transformational Economics, and an honorary fellow at the Schumacher Institute for Sustainable Systems, has issued a stark warning: humanity is at a critical juncture.

Ahmet, known for predicting the financial crisis of 2008, the shift to clean energy, and Brexit, has published a paper in the journal Foresight. In it, he argues that human civilization is on the brink of a “giant leap” in evolution. However, this transition to a post-materialist system reliant on clean, distributed energy faces the imminent threat of being thwarted by rapid decline.

A Critical Point in Human History

According to Ahmet, the current moment is pivotal for the future of humanity. He suggests that the next few years will be decisive in determining our trajectory for the rest of the 21st century. Humanity must choose between advancement and regression, a leap forward in evolution or a descent into a global crisis. The scientist emphasizes that our actions in the coming years will shape our future significantly.

The Lifecycle of Civilizations

Dr. Ahmet conceptualizes the development of civilizations as a four-stage lifecycle: growth, stability, decline, and transformation. He asserts that industrial civilization has already passed through the stages of growth and stability and is now in a phase of decline. This decline is exacerbated by increasing authoritarianism and the continued reliance on outdated technologies, especially in the energy sector. Ahmet points out that protecting the fossil fuel industry is hindering the transition to cleaner energy sources.

If humanity fails to change its current course, it risks missing the opportunity to transition to a more advanced and stable civilization. Ahmet believes that such a transition could provide a superabundance of resources through new technologies, such as robotics, artificial intelligence, and 3D printing. However, if the necessary changes are not made, we may face collapse, global upheavals, and even a protracted crisis.

Potential for Transformation

Ahmet sees great potential in modern technologies that can already provide clean energy, transportation, food, and knowledge without harming the environment. However, he stresses that taking advantage of these opportunities requires a complete rethinking of approaches to management and resource allocation. If humanity does not embrace these changes, it risks self-destruction.

Urgent Warnings and Global Threats

Ahmet’s warnings come amid other scientific publications highlighting the rapid changes in life on Earth due to climate change. Scientists warn that the planet is in a state similar to a “patient in serious condition” and that we could cross critical points of no return much sooner than expected. The next five years are described as critical for deciding our collective future. Humanity must make a choice between progress and decline, as there is no time for complacency.

Predictions of Catastrophe

The concept of the “end of the world” has appeared in various predictions, often depicting a threat to all civilizations and life forms. Environmental disasters, global nuclear wars, pandemics, meteorite collisions, and other scenarios have been predicted by different sources to lead to the end of the world within our lifetime or in the distant future.

• The Hopi Indians predicted that the world would end in 2035 due to natural disasters, astronomical phenomena, and unknown diseases, cleansing the Earth of “superfluous” people.
• Isaac Newton believed that the appearance of the “Antichrist” would precede the end of the world, which he predicted to occur in 2060.
• Edgar Cayce foresaw humanity’s demise in 2120 due to strong earthquakes that would destroy continents and wipe out civilization.
• Nostradamus predicted global disasters creeping up on humanity in 2080, where one half of the Earth would die from a global flood and the other half from drought. He also mentioned a nuclear war in 2250 as the year of the end of the world.
• The Bulgarian soothsayer Vanga envisioned the end of the world in 2378, believing that the sun would go out and the Earth would sink underwater due to an asteroid collision.