Nobel Laureate Mohan Munasinghe warns globe is closer to 'nuclear World War 3' amid energy, economic crisis

Nobel Laureate and climate expert Mohan Munasinghe has warned that the world is closer to “nuclear World War Three” than ever before, cautioning that escalating geopolitical tensions, rising military spending and deepening economic stress could push the global economy into another major crisis.

Speaking to CNBC-TV18, Munasinghe said the risks facing the world today go far beyond regional conflicts and are beginning to threaten global economic stability, energy security and food supplies.

“We are, to put it in a nutshell, closer to nuclear World War Three than we have ever been before,” he said. “There are enough nuclear bombs to wipe out humanity not 10 times, but 1,000 times over.”

Munasinghe said the ongoing tensions in the Middle East, especially around the Gulf of Hormuz, could trigger a severe global economic downturn through disruptions in energy and commodity markets. He warned that the world could face shortages not only in oil and gas but also in fertilisers, grains and industrial materials critical for manufacturing.

“There are near-term fixes, but they may not be applied,” he said, adding that the lack of responsible global leadership was worsening the crisis.

According to Munasinghe, the impact on agriculture could become severe as supply disruptions and geopolitical instability affect crop production cycles already strained by the Russia-Ukraine conflict. He pointed out that nearly 800 million people globally continue to face hunger, even as advanced economies waste large amounts of food.

He also criticised rising global military expenditure at a time when climate risks and poverty continue to intensify. “Currently, $2 trillion — 10 times or more than what we spend on helping the poor,” he said while referring to global defence spending. “Why do we spend 10 times more on killing people or on destruction rather than saving people?”

Munasinghe argued that geopolitical competition and the influence of arms lobbies were pushing nations towards prolonged conflicts rather than cooperation on climate and development goals.

His comments come at a time when climate accountability is increasingly becoming a global legal and political issue. The United Nations recently adopted a resolution stating that countries have a legal obligation to address climate change following a landmark opinion by the International Court of Justice.

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The United States, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Israel, Iran, Yemen, Liberia and Belarus were among the eight countries that opposed the resolution, while India, Turkey, Qatar and Nigeria abstained. Countries including Australia, Germany, France and the United Kingdom voted in favour.

António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, said governments have a responsibility to protect citizens from the escalating climate crisis.

Last year, the International Court of Justice said countries must prevent harm to the climate system and warned that failure to act could result in compensation claims and other legal consequences.

Munasinghe also cautioned that while technologies such as artificial intelligence could improve productivity and create new business opportunities, they could also leave millions behind if governments fail to invest in reskilling workers.

“AI, or digital technology, is a double-edged sword,” he said. “The downside is clearly that a lot of people are going to get left behind.”