Arabic version: تصنيف أستراليا كواحدة من أكثر الأماكن أماناً في سيناريوهات الكوارث العالمية

According to ABC News, new research suggests Australia could be among the safest places in the world if a global catastrophe occurs, due to its isolation, self-sufficiency and political stability. The study, co-authored by Matt Boyd and published in the journal Global Challenges, found Australia and New Zealand ranked highly in many catastrophic scenarios.

Researchers describe global catastrophic risks as events that place 10 per cent of human lives under threat. They broadly include abrupt reductions in sunlight, catastrophic infrastructure loss and global biological threats. Boyd said severe volcanic eruptions have previously caused famine and dynastic collapses, while other risks could range from nuclear winter and asteroid strikes to technological disasters.

Australia and New Zealand are isolated, democratic island nations with potential for substantial self-sufficiency in food production, energy, transport and communications. However, the research warns that no country would avoid the effects of a global disaster. Its central conclusion, reflected in the title No Place To Hide, is that relative safety does not mean immunity.

Densely populated cities may face particular difficulties, Boyd said. Volcanic ash or nuclear fallout could disrupt food supplies, while a major cyber attack could disable interconnected urban systems. Biological threats may also spread more quickly where large populations live and work closely together. Smaller communities and regional areas may therefore be better positioned to adapt in some circumstances.

The Bega Valley on New South Wales’ far south coast illustrates the importance of local resilience. The region, with nearly 40,000 people across more than a dozen towns and villages, endured the Black Summer bushfires before recovery was disrupted by the COVID pandemic. The Bega Valley Data Collective, formed after the fires, conducts community wellbeing surveys and provides local data to inform regional decisions. Boyd said resilience depends on every level, from national institutions to local planning and citizens’ assemblies.