WEF – The Global Risks Report, 2024

The Global Risks Report 2024 presents the findings of the Global Risks Perception Survey (GRPS), which gathered insights from nearly 1,500 global experts. The report analyzes global risks through three different time frames in order to help decision-makers balance current crises and long-term priorities. Chapter 1 of the report examines the most severe current risks, as well as those ranked highest by survey respondents, over a two-year period. It focuses on three risks that have rapidly accelerated into the top 10 rankings during this time. Chapter 2 shifts its focus to the top risks that are expected to emerge over the next decade. These risks are analyzed within the context of geostrategic, climate, technological, and demographic shifts. The chapter dives deeper into four specific risk outlooks. The report concludes by discussing approaches for addressing the complex and non-linear aspects of global risks during this period of global fragmentation. The key findings of the report indicate a deteriorating global outlook. The year 2023 saw numerous developments that captured global attention, including lethal conflicts and extreme weather conditions. Societal discontent was also evident in many countries, with violent protests and strikes. Looking ahead, the GRPS results for 2023-2024 indicate a predominantly negative outlook for the next two years, which is expected to worsen over the next decade. The majority of respondents anticipate instability and a moderate risk of global catastrophes. Over the 10-year time horizon, nearly two-thirds of respondents expect a stormy or turbulent outlook. Environmental risks continue to dominate the risks landscape across all three time frames. Extreme weather is ranked as the top risk most likely to present a global crisis in 2024. Environmental risks, such as biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse, are also seen as significant risks over the longer term. Societal polarization and economic downturn are identified as influential risks in the global risks network, as they are both drivers and possible consequences of numerous other risks. The report also highlights the increasing pressures on truth and the potential consequences of growing polarization and unchecked technological risks. It emphasizes the need for societies to adapt to changing forces and improve their capacity to prepare for and respond to global risks.