Juan Manuel Santos
Juan Manuel Santos joins speakers Herb Lin, Suzet McKinney and Robert Socolow on stage for the Clock unveiling.
28 January 2025
The hands of the Doomsday Clock were moved forward to an unprecedented 89 seconds to midnight, the closest to catastrophe humanity has ever been. In his address at the Clock unveiling in Washington D.C., Chair of The Elders, Juan Manuel Santos highlighted the interconnect nature of entrenched, as well as emerging, existential threats and urged humanity to come together to protect our shared future.
Read his remarks in full:
Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished colleagues, and esteemed guests,
This clock is a stark diagnosis of our reality.
At 89 seconds to midnight, the Doomsday Clock stands closer to catastrophe than at any moment in its history.
The Clock speaks to the existential threats that confront us, and the need for unity and bold leadership to turn back its hands.
2024 was the hottest year on record, unleashing devastating climate shocks that destroyed lives and livelihoods across the globe.
The only effective response is for nations to work together, which is why it is so alarming that President Trump has signalled his intention to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement. In this crucial year for climate action ahead of COP30 in Brazil, I urge all other signatories to double down and reaffirm their commitment to meeting the Paris goals.
The climate crisis is a force multiplier for instability and insecurity, amplifying the likelihood and severity of all other existential threats.
