In an
interdependent, fast-moving world, organizations are increasingly confronted by
risks that are complex in nature and global in consequence. Such risks can be
difficult to anticipate and respond to, even for the most seasoned business
leaders.
The World Economic Forum’s Risk Response
Network provides leaders from the private and public
sectors with an independent platform to map, monitor and mitigate global risks.
Its annual Global Risks
Report analyses the perceived impact and likelihood of
50 prevalent global risks over a ten year time horizon. The 50 global risks are
divided into five categories: economic, environmental, geopolitical, societal
and technological risks. Significant interconnections of global risks are
analysed as major case studies in the report.
The Global Risks
Report 2013 analyses 50 global risks in terms of
impact, likelihood and interconnections, based on a survey of over 1000 experts
from industry, government and academia.
This
year’s findings show that the world is more at risk as persistent economic
weakness saps our ability to tackle environmental challenges. The report
highlights wealth gaps (severe income disparity) followed by unsustainable
government debt (chronic fiscal imbalances) as the top two most prevalent
global risks. Following a year scarred by extreme weather, from Hurricane Sandy
to flooding in China, respondents rated rising greenhouse gas emissions as the
third most likely global risk overall. The findings of the survey fed into an
analysis of three major risk cases: Testing Economic and Environmental
Resilience, Digital Wildfires in a Hyper-connected World and The Dangers of
Hubris on Human Health. In a special report on national resilience, the groundwork is laid
for a new country resilience rating, which would allow leaders to benchmark
their progress. The report also highlights “X Factors” – emerging concerns which warrant more research,
including the rogue deployment of geo-engineering and brain-altering
technologies.
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