World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report Says (The 20th Edition of the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report Highlights 33 Risks)

 

The 20^th edition of the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report highlights 33 risks, released on Wednesday, 15 January 2025, Geneva, Switzerland, reveals an increasingly fractured global landscape, where escalating geopolitical, environmental, societal and technological challenges threaten stability and progress.

While economic risks have less immediate prominence in this year’s survey results, they remain a concern, interconnected with societal and geopolitical tensions. Says Davos-based World Economic Forum.

State-based armed conflict is identified as the most pressing immediate global risk for 2025, with nearly one-quarter of respondents ranking it as the most severe concern for the year ahead.

Misinformation and disinformation remain top short-term risks for the second consecutive year, underlining their persistent threat to societal cohesion and governance by eroding trust and exacerbating divisions within and between nations. Other leading short-term risks include extreme weather events, societal polarization, cyber-espionage, and warfare.

Environmental risks dominate the longer-term outlook, with extreme weather events, biodiversity loss, and Ecosystems collapse, critical change to Earth systems and natural resources shortages leading the 10^th-year risk rankings.

The fifth environmental risk in the top 10 is pollution, which is also perceived as a leading risk in the short-term. Its sixth-place ranking in the short-term reflects a growing recognition of the serious health and ecosystem impacts of a wide range of pollution across air, water and land.

Overall, extreme weather events were identified prominently as immediate, short-term and long –term risks.  The long-term landscape is also clouded by technological risks related to misinformation and adverse outcomes of AI technologies.

“The world has changed profoundly over the last 20 years and will continue to do so in unpredictable ways. But foresight based on informed. Export views remains critical for better planning and preparation, in both the short and long term.” Observes Managing Director Saadia Zahid.

The report is the WEF’s flagship publication on global risks produced by the global Risks Initiative at WEF’s Centre for the New Economy and Society, the report leverages insights from the Global Risks Perception Survey, which draws on the views of over 900 global leaders across business, government, academia, and civil society surveyed in September and October 2024, paints a stark picture of the decade ahead.

 The identifies and analyses the most pressing risks across immediate, short-and long-term horizons, aiming to equip leaders with foresight to address emerging challenges. It serves as a key resource for understanding the evolving global risk landscape and fostering collective to build a resilient future.

Respondents are far less optimistic about the outlook for the over the longer term than the short term.

Nearly two-thirds of respondents anticipate a turbulent or stormy global landscape by 2035, driven is particular by intensifying environmental, technological and societal challenges.

Over half of respondents expect some instability within two years, reflecting the widespread fracturing of international cooperation. Long-term projections signal even greater challenges as mechanisms for collaboration are expected to face mounting pressure.

Societal risks such as inequality and societal polarization feature prominently in both short-and long-term risk rankings. Risking concerns about illicit economic activity, mounting debt burdens and the concentration of strategic resources highlighted vulnerabilities that could destabilize the global economy in the coming years.

All these issues risk exacerbating domestic instability and eroding trust in governance, further complicating efforts to address global challenges.

All 33 risks in ranking increase in severity score over the longer term, reflect respondent’s concerns about the heightened frequency or intensity of these risks as the next decade unfolds.

“From conflicts to climate changes, we are facing interconnected crisis that demand coordinated, collective action,” says Mark Elsner, Head of the Global Risks Initiative, World Economic Forum. “Renewed efforts to rebuild trust and foster cooperation are urgently needed. The consequences of inaction could be felt for generations to come.”

As divisions deepen and fragmentation reshapes geopolitical and economic landscapes, the need for effective global cooperation has never been more urgent. Yet, with 64% of experts anticipating a fragmented global order marked by competition among middle and great powers, multilateralism faces significant strain.

However, turning inward is not a viable solution. The decade ahead presents a pivotal moment for leaders to navigate complex, interconnected risks and address the limitations of existing governance structures. To prevent a downward spiral of instability –and instead rebuild trust, enhance resilience, and secure a sustainable and inclusive future for all-nations should prioritize dialogue, strengthen international ties and foster conditions for renewed collaboration.

According to the Global Risks Report” there is 33 risks listed for 2025 that we can categorize into five major areas: Environmental, Geopolitical, Societal, Technological, and Economic.