How to Prevent Global Catastrophic Risks | Stefan Löfven and Jens Orback

How to Prevent Global Catastrophic Risks | Stefan Löfven and Jens Orback

Author: Global Dispatches May 26, 2026 Duration: 27:06

Today's episode is produced in partnership with the Global Challenges Foundation. The foundation is dedicated to raising awareness of global catastrophic risks and strengthening global governance to address them. The Global Challenges Foundation's 2026 Global Catastrophic Risks report outlines five of the biggest risks facing humanity today -- and how to stop them. You can find the report at globalchallenges.org/gcr-2026.

This is the fifth episode of this series, which has included episodes on specific risks like nuclear weapons, ecological collapse, catastrophic climate change — and even near-Earth asteroids. In today's episode, I am joined by the former prime minister of Sweden, Stefan Löfven, and Jens Orback, a strategic advisor to the Global Challenges Foundation, for a wide-ranging conversation about how we can better reform our politics and diplomacy to confront global catastrophic risks.

Managing global catastrophic risks requires systems of global governance, and in this episode we discuss how we can build our common defense against these challenges.

 

 

 


For years, Global Dispatches--World News That Matters has carved out a unique space, going beyond the headlines to explore the forces and figures shaping our world. This isn't about rapid-fire soundbites; it's a series of substantive conversations with the people directly involved-diplomats negotiating treaties, reporters on the ground in conflict zones, and scholars analyzing long-term trends in global development and international relations. The discussions delve into the "why" behind the news, providing context that is often missing from daily reporting. Recognized by The Guardian as a podcast designed to make you smarter, it serves an audience that feels underserved by superficial summaries. Each episode is built on the premise that complex events deserve nuanced explanation. By listening, you gain access to a clearer, more informed perspective on pivotal issues, from geopolitical shifts to humanitarian crises. The podcast’s longevity as an independent program speaks to its consistent quality and dedicated following. Tune in for a deeper, more thoughtful analysis of the stories that truly matter, presented through the voices of those who know them best.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Global Dispatches -- World News That Matters
Podcast Episodes
Can the UN Charter Be Reformed? | To Save Us From Hell [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:31
The Security Council is deep into negotiations around authorizing an international stabilization force for Gaza. But even if the Council approves such a mission, will it actually deploy? In this episode of To Save Us Fro…
What Comes Next For Israel and Gaza  | With Matt Duss [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:56
A ceasefire is holding in Gaza. Aid is beginning to flow. The remaining Israeli hostages have been released, as have nearly 2,000 Palestinians from Israeli detention. This has been a truly remarkable day in the Middle Ea…
When Treaties Work: The High Seas Treaty [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:09
On September 16th, Morocco became the 60th country to ratify the High Seas Treaty, triggering a countdown to January, when the treaty will officially enter into force. The High Seas Treaty establishes a kind of "rules of…
Sudan's Civil War Takes an Even Deadlier Turn [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:01
A genocidal militia called the Rapid Support Forces has been laying siege to the city of El Fasher, in Darfur, for nearly 500 days. But in recent weeks, the situation has grown far worse. Some 250,000 people are now trap…
"Women's Rights Are Human Rights" — 30 Years On [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:41
In 1995, there was a landmark meeting on gender equality in Beijing: the Fourth World Conference on Women. The conference produced the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a highly influential blueprint for advan…
Is America Suddenly at War With Venezuela? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:06
Over the last two weeks, the United States has at least twice bombed boats in the Caribbean that the White House claims were smuggling drugs to the United States, killing an unknown number of people on board. This is ext…
"Your countries are going to hell" -- Trump Unleashes at the UN [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:32
It was Donald Trump's fifth speech before the United Nations General Assembly. It was also his most rambling. For 55 minutes, the President of the United States riffed: on migration, windmills, hot air, London's mayor, o…