Week 6 Discussion 1 Future Ethical Considerations

ECONOMIC

Shocks to economic infrastructure

Fiscal crises in key economies [1]

Failure of a major financial mechanism or institution [9]

Liquidity crises

Structurally high unemployment/underemployment [2]

Oil-price shock to the global economy

Failure/shortfall of critical infrastructure

Decline of importance of the US dollar as a major currency

ENVIRONMENTAL

Natural disasters and man-made risks of depletion of natural resources

Greater incidence of extreme weather events (e.g. floods, storms, fires) [6]

Greater incidence of natural catastrophes (e.g. earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, geomagnetic storms)

Greater incidence of man-made environmental catastrophes (e.g. oil spills, nuclear accidents)

Major biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse (land and ocean)

Water crises [3]

Failure of climate change mitigation and adaptation [5]

GEOPOLITICAL

Areas of politics, diplomacy, conflict, crime, and global governance (corruption)

Global governance failure [7]

Political collapse of a nation of geopolitical importance

Increasing corruption

Major escalation in organized crime and illicit trade

Large-scale terrorist attacks

Deployment of weapons of mass destruction

Violent inter-state conflict with regional consequences

Escalation of economic and resource nationalization

SOCIETAL

Risk relating to social stability and public health

Food crises [8]

Pandemic outbreak

Unmanageable burden of chronic disease

Severe income disparity [4]

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria

Mismanaged urbanization (e.g. planning failures, inadequate infrastructure and supply chains)

Profound political and social instability [10]

TECHNOLOGICAL

Risks relating to growing centrality of information and communication technologies

Breakdown of critical information infrastructure and networks

Escalation in large-scale cyber attacks

Massive incident of data fraud/theft