Rising environmental, tech challenges threaten global stability: Report

A new report released on Wednesday reveals an increasingly divided global landscape, with escalating geopolitical, environmental, social, and technological challenges threatening stability and progress. While economic risks are less prominent in this year's findings, they remain a concern, intertwined with social and geopolitical tensions, as highlighted in the World Economic Forum's 20th edition of the Global Risks Report.

The report identifies interstate armed conflict as the most pressing global risk for 2025, with nearly a quarter of respondents citing it as their top concern for the coming year. Misinformation and disinformation remain a top short-term risk for the second consecutive year, underscoring their ongoing threat to social cohesion and governance by eroding trust and exacerbating divisions within and between nations. Other major short-term risks include extreme weather events, societal polarization, cyber espionage, and warfare.

Environmental risks dominate the long-term outlook, with extreme weather events, biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse, critical changes to Earth systems, and natural resource shortages topping the ten-year risk rankings. The fifth environmental risk in the top ten is pollution, which is also considered a major 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 various pollutants in the air, water, and land. Overall, extreme weather events are prominently highlighted as immediate, short-term, and long-term risks.

In the long term, technological risks related to misinformation, disinformation, and the adverse consequences of artificial intelligence also loom large over the outlook. "Escalating geopolitical tensions, a breakdown of global trust, and the climate crisis are putting unprecedented pressure on the global system," said Mirek Dusek, Managing Director of the World Economic Forum. "In a world characterized by deepening divides and cascading risks, global leaders face a choice: either foster cooperation and resilience, or face increasing instability. The stakes have never been higher," he added.

The report, based on a survey of over 900 global risk experts, policymakers, and industry leaders conducted in September and October 2024, paints a grim picture for the next decade. Respondents are significantly less optimistic about the long-term global outlook than the short term. Nearly two-thirds of respondents anticipate a turbulent global landscape by 2035, particularly due to the escalation of environmental, technological, and societal challenges. Over half of respondents expect some level of instability within two years, reflecting a pervasive breakdown in international cooperation. The long-term forecast suggests that challenges will become more severe as cooperation mechanisms are expected to face increasing strain. Social risks, such as inequality and societal polarization, are prominent in both short-term and long-term risk rankings.

Growing concerns about illicit economic activities, increasing debt burdens, and the concentration of strategic resources highlight vulnerabilities that could destabilize the global economy in the coming years. All of these issues have the potential to exacerbate domestic instability and erode trust in governance, further complicating efforts to address global challenges. All 33 risks in the rankings have increased in severity scores over the long term, reflecting respondents' concerns about an increase in the frequency or intensity of these risks over the next decade.

"From conflict to climate change, we are facing interconnected crises that require concerted collective action," said Mark Elsner, Head of Global Risks Initiative at the World Economic Forum. "There is an urgent need for efforts to rebuild trust and foster cooperation. The consequences of inaction could impact generations to come," he added. The reporting on our website is for informational purposes only. Content that includes financial, investment, tax or legal content should not be taken as financial advice or recommendations. Please see our full disclaimer policy here.