Einar H. Dyvik
Research expert covering Nordics and global data for society, economy, and politics
Polycrisis - statistics & facts
The polycrisis is an idea which refers to an era of overlapping and mutually reinforcing emergencies which are gripping human societies, as well as the natural world, in the twenty-first century. From the climate crisis, to global health emergencies, to a destabilized geopolitical climate, the second decade of this century has proven to be more challenging than even the most pessimistic commentators had predicted. While human societies have weathered intense periods of crisis in the past, what marks this era out as distinct is the extent to which different problems are entangled and amplify each other. As climate change affects everything from the prices of essential foodstuffs, to the likelihood of the emanation of new infectious diseases and pandemics, we are also more likely to see the emergence of new and unpredictable crises in the coming decades. There is increasing recognition in both science and public policy that due to the nature of complex systems such as the natural world or global economy, efforts to combat one crisis alone may also have cascading side-effects in any number of different areas.
