WEF Global Risks Report 2025

The 20th edition of the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report, released today, reveals an increasingly fractured global landscape, where escalating geopolitical, environmental, societal and technological challenges threaten stability and progress.

Key findings:

• Immediate risks (2025): State-based armed conflict is identified as the most pressing concern, with nearly 25% of respondents highlighting it as a top threat. Misinformation and disinformation remain leading short-term risks, eroding trust and exacerbating societal divides. Other immediate concerns include extreme weather events, societal polarisation, and cyber threats.
• Long-term risks (10-year horizon): Environmental challenge dominate, with extreme weather events, biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse, and pollution among the leading risks. Technological threats, such as misinformation and adverse outcomes from AI, also feature prominently.
• Societal vulnerabilities: Inequality, societal polarisation, and economic instability, including illicit activity and rising debt burdens, contribute to global fragility and complicate efforts for collective action.

The report underscores the urgency of global collaboration to address these interconnected crises. Leaders are urged to prioritise dialogue, rebuild trust, and strengthen international cooperation to ensure a sustainable and inclusive future.

The findings of this report will be discussed next week at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2025. In the meantime, we would like to hear from you: What role can environmental and climate specialists play in ensuring that local initiatives effectively contribute to global solutions for these pressing risks?