Risk factors for s-risks

By Tobias_Baumann @ 2019-02-13T17:51 (+40)

This is a linkpost to http://s-risks.org/risk-factors-for-s-risks/

Traditional disaster risk prevention has a concept of risk factors. These factors are not risks in and of themselves, but they increase either the probability or the magnitude of a risk. For instance, inadequate governance structures do not cause a specific disaster, but if a disaster strikes it may impede an effective response, thus increasing the damage.

Rather than considering individual scenarios of how s-risks could occur, which tends to be highly speculative, this post will instead look at risk factors – i.e. factors that would make s-risks more likely or more severe.

JanBrauner @ 2019-02-16T20:55 (+2)

I don't have much to add, but I still wanted to say that I really liked this:

great perspective, risk factors seem to be a really useful concept here
Very clearly written

Tobias_Baumann @ 2019-02-17T21:18 (+1)

Thank you – great to hear that you've found it useful!

EvanWard @ 2019-02-14T13:15 (+1)

I think this is a great way to think about s-risks. One risk factor I am not sure was included was the dynamic of decoupling well-being from survivability. I write a bit about this here.

Essentially, I think a generic risk factor for s-risks includes any action, such as genetic engineering, that increases the ability for organisms to survive and reproduce regardless of their subjective experience.