World Economic Forum Warns Of “Environmental-Related Risks” In Global Risks Report
Swiss non-profit and influential advisory group World Economic Forum has published its 12th annual Global Risks Report, in which it highlights the increasing concern over “environment-related risks.”
Published this week, The Global Risks Report 2017 is the 12th annual edition of the report, and concludes that economic inequality, societal polarization, and intensifying environmental dangers are the top three trends that will shape global developments over the next ten years — not least of all this year. The report is the result of assessment from some 750 experts assessing 30 global risks and 12 underlying trends that could amplify these risks.
“Urgent action is needed among leaders to identify ways to overcome political or ideological differences and work together to solve critical challenges,” said Margareta Drzeniek-Hanouz, Head of Global Competitiveness and Risks, World Economic Forum. “The momentum of 2016 towards addressing climate change shows this is possible, and offers hope that collective action at the international level aimed at resetting other risks could also be achieved.”
While the report does not limit itself to environmental risks — the first and third risks were determined to be rising income & wealth disparity and increasing polarization of societies — the fact that the report concludes “the environment dominates the global risks landscape” highlights the dangers ignoring the environment can have on larger concerns. The report labeled climate change as the second underlying trend this year, and for the first time all five environmental risks in the survey were ranked both high-risk and high-likelihood — these five being:
- Failure of climate-change mitigation and adaptation
- Man-made environmental disasters
- Extreme weather events
- Natural disasters
- Biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse
The Global Risks Interconnections Map 2017
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