The Environmental Doomsday Clock for 2026, announced by The Asahi Glass Foundation, stands at 9:39, with the survey showing that experts worldwide view environmental problems as serious. There was broad agreement that government environmental policy and international cooperation are important, and specific next steps for companies and citizens were outlined.
Amid reports of torrential rain, droughts and heat waves around the world, The Asahi Glass Foundation announced the 2026 Environmental Doomsday Clock, based on its surveys conducted since 1992. The clock reached 9:39, representing a substantial increase in awareness of the crisis compared with the starting time of 7:49 in 1992.
The factors experts cited in determining 9:39 included climate change at 33%, biodiversity at 16%, and social, economic and policy issues at 13%. Geo-Cosmos visualizations and warming simulations made the sense of crisis more tangible.
Professor Emori (江守) explained that the pace of long-term warming has generally been in line with past projections, while pointing out that torrential rain, heat waves and droughts are expanding localized damage. The possibility of tipping points was also raised, including coral bleaching in tropical reefs, the rapid melting of the Greenland ice sheet, the collapse of the West Antarctic ice sheet and permafrost thaw.
Knowing about the crisis is not enough; how to act was identified as crucial, and many respondents said that government environmental policy and leadership, along with international cooperation, would be key. Companies are being urged to promote energy efficiency, renewable energy and electrification, while citizens are being asked to take concrete steps such as calling for expanded local government subsidies for insulation and supporting candidates who prioritize climate action.