About

CLTR is an independent think tank with a mission to transform global resilience to extreme risks. We are based in the heart of Whitehall.

Extreme risks are high impact threats with global reach. They have the potential to devastate lives and economies around the world. Examples include natural or AI-engineered pandemics, the handover of increasing control of important decisions to AI, AI-driven threats to democracies, or major accidents from the use of AI in critical national infrastructure. Other examples, which are outside our current focus, include nuclear weapon use and extreme climate impacts.

These events are made more likely by increasing levels of global volatility, digital dependence and geopolitical fragmentation.

While Covid-19 demonstrates the impact that extreme risks can have, we are likely to face greater risks within our lifetimes. Threats from misuse of biotechnology or powerful AI systems would likely be even more destructive, and we are even less well prepared for them.

The UK Government, alongside other organisations, has made substantial progress in building resilience in the wake of Covid-19 and extraordinary AI progress such as ChatGPT. But much more needs to be done, and quickly.

By making relatively small and inexpensive changes, we can reduce the likelihood of extreme events occurring, and transform our ability to respond if they do.

We think of building resilience to extreme risks as an insurance policy — for the UK and the wider world.

Founded to support policymakers

CLTR was conceived as a response to the policymakers’ attention constantly being drawn towards dealing with immediate political issues rather than addressing long-term policy challenges. Prioritising the urgent over the important is a permanent feature of modern government.

At the same time, hugely significant trends and developments have been playing out — not least the extraordinary pace of technological change, coupled with a darkening geopolitical outlook. These have changed dramatically the range and scale of risks which Government faces. While the recent pandemic demonstrates the impact that extreme risks can have, we are likely to face greater risks within our lifetimes – particularly from misuse of biotechnology or powerful AI systems.

CLTR was set up five years ago with a vision for a safe and flourishing world with high resilience to extreme risks. We are independent and non-partisan, ensuring that Government receives genuinely impartial thinking. We provide expertise to Government giving it the “extra hands” it needs while trying to reflect the experience, ideas and values of everyone working in the field. Above all, we want to provide actionable policy steps which are practical and solutions-focused. We believe that the UK can play an outsized role, operating as a national policy test-bed and trendsetter, an international convener and an important ally for the US and the EU.

Approach

We believe that extreme risks pose some of the biggest challenges of the 21st Century, and want to work with a wide range of people and organisations who share our goals. As a result, we aim to collaborate with a broad coalition of policymakers, academics, think tanks and private-sector risk experts.

We draw our inspiration from a wide range of sources which include:

The academic disciplines of global catastrophic risk and existential risk;
Private sector risk management best practice;
The policy areas of technology governance, civil service reform and global health security;
Some of the ideas of effective altruism (primarily, its focus on trying to solve important, neglected and tractable problems) and social justice (in particular, concern for the victims of extreme risk events like Covid-19).

Values

We care deeply about our mission, and are passionate about bringing together a variety of perspectives and people to achieve it.

Integrity
People first
Targeted, real-world impact

Annual Reports

It’s important to be aware that donations to us are subject to PayPal’s fees and are generally not eligible for tax deductions. We recommend seeking advice regarding the status of your donation. As we are not a registered charity, donations made to us do not qualify for Gift Aid. Your support plays a vital role in advancing our mission, and we are grateful for your commitment.

2021 2022