Wharton Risk Center – Philadelphia, PA, USA — 15 January 2015 – The biggest threat to the stability of the world in the next 10 years comes from the risk of international conflict, according to the 10th edition of the Global Risks report, published today, to which the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania’s Risk Management and Decision Processes Center contributed.
The report, which every year features an assessment by experts on the top global risks in terms of likelihood and potential impact over the coming 10 years, finds interstate conflict with regional consequences as the number one global risk in terms of likelihood, and the fourth most serious risk in terms of impact. In terms of likelihood, as a risk it exceeds extreme weather events (2), failure of national governance systems (3), state collapse or crisis (4) and high structural unemployment or underemployment (5).
In looking at global risks in terms of their potential impact, the nearly 900 experts that took part in the Global Risk Perception Survey rated water crises as the greatest risk facing the world. Other top risks alongside that and interstate conflict in terms of impact are: rapid and massive spread of infectious diseases (2), weapons of mass destruction (3) and failure of climate change adaptation (5).
With the 28 global risks that were assessed in 2015 grouped into five categories – economic, environmental, geopolitical, societal and technological – 2015 stands out as a year when geopolitical risks, having been largely absent from the landscape of leading risks for the past half-decade, returns to the fore. With geopolitics increasingly influencing the global economy, these risks account for three of the five most likely, and two of the most potentially impactful, risks in 2015. Also in this category, three risks stand out as having intensified the most since 2014 in terms of likelihood and impact. These are interstate conflict with regional consequences, weapons of mass destruction and terrorist attacks.
The risk landscape in 2015 also shows that there remains concern over the world’s ability to solve its most pressing societal issues, as countries are under threat from economic, environmental and geopolitical risks. Indeed, the societal risk accounts for the top two potentially impactful risks. Also noteworthy is the presence of more environmental risks among the top risks than economic ones. This comes as a result of a marked increase in experts’ negative assessment of existing preparations to cope with challenges such as extreme weather and climate change, rather than owing to a diminution of fears over chronic economic risks such as unemployment and underemployment or fiscal crises, which have remained relatively stable from 2014.
“Twenty-five years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, the world again faces the risk of major conflict between states,” said Margareta Drzeniek-Hanouz, Lead Economist, World Economic Forum. “However, today the means to wage such conflict, whether through cyberattack, competition for resources or sanctions and other economic tools, is broader than ever. Addressing all these possible triggers and seeking to return the world to a path of partnership, rather than competition, should be a priority for leaders as we enter 2015.”
Erwann Michel-Kerjan, Executive Director of the Wharton Risk Center and member of the GRR Advisory Board, reflects on 10 years of collaboration with the World Economic Forum: “Modern risk management is now in high demand in a number of presidential offices and boardrooms. The methodology that was developed and continuously improved over the last decade can help many global leaders eager to strengthen resilience of their country or organization. While not a crystal ball, the report provides an essential compass to better navigate the world of risks.”
In addition to assessing the likelihood and potential impact of these 28 global risks, Global Risks 2015 examines the interconnections between risks, as well as how they interplay with trends shaping the short- to medium-term risk landscape. It also offers analysis of three specific cases which emerge from the interconnections maps: the interplay between geopolitics and economics, the risks related to rapid and unplanned urbanization in developing countries and one on emerging technologies.
The report also provides analysis related to global risks for which respondents feel their own region is least prepared, as well as on the global risks on which they feel most progress has been made over the last 10 years. It also presents for the first time country-level data on how businesses perceive global risks in their countries, which can be accessed here. Moreover, the report features three examples of risk management and resilience practices related to extreme weather events.
In this regard Howard Kunreuther, Co-Director of the Wharton Risk Center and an Academic Advisor for GRR 2015 notes that “experts and the general public are now much more concerned with weather-related events than they were ten years ago because of the increasing losses from natural disasters around the world. ‘Extreme weather events’ is ranked as the second most likely global risk, and the failure of climate change adaptations is in the top 5 global risks in terms of potential impact. As the GRR 2015 indicates, there are now efforts underway – such as the Resilient America Roundtable by the National Academy of Sciences – to focus on long-term strategies currently being undertaken by communities to reduce the likelihood of severe catastrophes and to cope with disasters more effectively should they occur.”
The Global Risks 2015 report has been developed with the support of Strategic Partners Marsh & McLennan Companies and Zurich Insurance Group. The report also benefited from the collaboration of its academic advisers: the Oxford Martin School (University of Oxford), the National University of Singapore, the Wharton Risk Management and Decision Processes Center (University of Pennsylvania), and the Advisory Board of the Global Risks 2015 report.
For more information on Global Risks 2015:
- Watch the report launch press conference at http://wef.ch/live
- Watch the Global Risks 2015 introductory video at http://wef.ch/grr2015
- Find out more about the Annual Meeting 2015 at http://wef.ch/davos15
For interview requests with the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania on Global Risks 2015,
please contact:
- Carol Heller, Sr. Communications Manager, Wharton Risk Center
email: hellerc@wharton.upenn.edu; 215-898-5688 (office) - Peter Winicov, Director, Media Relations, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
email: winicov@wharton.upenn.edu; +1-215.746.6471 (office) / +1-610.952.1369 (cell)
The World Economic Forum is an international institution committed to improving the state of the world through public-private cooperation in the spirit of global citizenship. It engages with business, political, academic and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. Incorporated as a not-for-profit foundation in 1971 and headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the Forum is independent, impartial and not tied to any interests. It cooperates closely with all leading international organizations (www.weforum.org).
The Risk Management and Decision Processes Center at the Wharton School has for three decades been at the forefront of basic and applied research to promote effective corporate and public policies for low probability events with potentially catastrophic consequences. The Center includes 70 faculty, research fellows, and visiting scholars from all over the world undertaking large-scale initiatives. Providing expertise and a neutral environment for discussion, the Center team promotes a dialogue among industry, governments, interest groups and academics through its research, policy publications, and forums. Research and more at http://www.wharton.upenn.edu/riskcenter/index.cfm.
Founded in 1881 as the first collegiate business school, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania is recognized globally for intellectual leadership and ongoing innovation across every major discipline of business education. With a broad global community and one of the most published business school faculties, Wharton creates ongoing economic and social value around the world. The School has 5,000 undergraduate, MBA, executive MBA, and doctoral students; more than 9,000 annual participants in executive education programs; and a powerful alumni network of 93,000 graduates.
