An existential threat is an event or situation that has the potential to cause the extinction of humanity or other global catastrophes, such as a major pandemic, nuclear war, global climate change, or an artificial intelligence taking over the world. It is a rare but significant risk requiring coordinated action to mitigate and could have a catastrophic impact on all life on Earth. Despite the low probability of an existential threat occurring, the immense stakes of such an event necessitate serious consideration and proactive planning.

See also: existential risk, nuclear weapon, catastrophic risk, climate change, collective action