Growing strain on global systems heightens risks

The World Economic Forum’s (WEF) latest survey of more than 1,000 experts and decision makers on the likelihood and impact of 30 global risks over a 10-year period found four areas of concern: environmental degradation; cybersecurity breaches; economic strains; and geopolitical tensions. Despite experiencing a year-long global economic recovery, the survey revealed that respondents are pessimistic about the year ahead (59 percent say they expect an increase in risk for the year, compared to 7 percent who expect declining risks). The report cautions that we are struggling to keep up with the pace of change and are pushing systems to the brink.

The latest annual Global Risks Report compiled by the WEF asserts the world has moved into a new and unsettling geopolitical phase. This year, WEF has added a new series of reports examining the possibilities of dramatic future breakdowns as well as reassessing past surveys to the report to broaden the analytical reach.

Just as in 2017, the environment was the greatest concern cited by experts, while cyber threats are growing in prominence, with large-scale cyberattacks ranking third in terms of likelihood. Rising cyber-dependency is ranked as the second most significant driver shaping the global risks landscape over the next 10 years.

WEF also supplies an interactive map that shows the interconnections between the risks and can be accessed here.