Another year of living dangerously – what 2022 holds for the world

Analysis: expect more daunting challenges, from an arms race in space and possible war in Ukraine to increasing populism ... not to mention the pandemic

On the brink of a new year, the world faces a daunting array of challenges: the Covid pandemic, the climate emergency, the epic struggle between democracy and authoritarianism, humanitarian crises, mass migration, and trans-national terrorism. There is also the danger of new inter-state conflicts, exacerbated by the breakdown of the rules-based international order and the unregulated spread of lethal autonomous weapons employing artificial intelligence. All in all, for most people on Earth - and a handful in space - 2022 will be another year of living dangerously.