Extreme weather is the biggest worry for business leaders and politicians: WEF

• Extreme weather is a top concern for business leaders and politicians.
• According to the World Economic Forum, these risks are the biggest long-term concern.
• According to the Global Risk Report, about two-thirds of the 1,400 respondents are concerned about extreme weather.

Environmental concerns keep the world’s most powerful and influential people awake at night.

According to the World Economic Forum’s 2024 Global Risks Report, extreme weather events and significant changes to the Earth system are the top long-term concerns for politicians and business leaders.

It brings together the opinions of approximately 1,400 global risk experts, policy makers and industry leaders surveyed in September 2023. The researchers discovered that: false alarm The biggest short-term risk was disinformation, and the biggest long-term concern was extreme weather.

Around two-thirds of experts are concerned about extreme weather over the next 12 months. However, respondents disagreed on the duration of the risk. Those in the private sector believed that results would be seen over a longer period of time than those in civil society and government.

Experts surveyed were less optimistic about the near future, with 30% expecting a global catastrophe to become more likely in the next two years. Almost two-thirds expected this to happen in the next 10 years.

The report also warned that finding global cooperation on urgent issues can be difficult and urged a new approach to international cooperation.

Saadia Zahidi, Managing Director of the World Economic Forum, said: “An unstable global order, characterized by polarizing narratives and insecurity, the worsening impacts of extreme weather events and economic uncertainty, is being driven by misinformation and disinformation.” “This is causing an accelerated spread of risks, including information.”

“World leaders must come together to address the short-term crisis and lay the foundations for a more resilient, sustainable and inclusive future.”

The World Economic Forum’s annual meeting begins on Tuesday in Davos, Switzerland. This year’s theme is ‘Rebuilding Trust’ and will focus on principles such as transparency, consistency and accountability.