What keeps you up at night?

For leaders surveyed for the latest edition of the World Economic Forum's Global Risks Report, environmental threats dominate the list for the third year in row - both in terms of impact and likelihood.

“Of all risks, it is in relation to the environment that the world is most clearly sleepwalking into catastrophe,” the report warns.

What are the biggest risks?

The report offers a unique perspective on the threats facing our world, by looking at not only those risks that are most likely, but also those that would have the biggest impact.

Image: World Economic Forum

Although the lists are distinct, there are some common themes that connect the two. As the tables above (most likely risks) and below (those with the greatest impact) show, environmental concerns accounted for three of the top five risks by likelihood and four by impact.

After 2018 saw unprecedented heatwaves, storms and floods across the globe, extreme weather events top the list of most likely risks and come third for impact.

Our inadequate response to deal with the threats posed by climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions - ‘Failure of climate-change mitigation and adaptation’ - is in second place on both lists, reflecting respondents’ increasing concerns about environmental policy failure.

The report says: “The results of climate inaction are becoming increasingly clear. The accelerating pace of biodiversity loss is a particular concern.”

A World Wildlife Fund report from last year highlighted the extent of the challenge we face - with loses in vertebrate species averaging 60% between 1970 and 2014.

Risks posed by our increased reliance on technology, as well as risks to the global economy, and societal and geopolitical risks are also big concerns in terms of likelihood and impact.

Image: World Economic Forum

Cyber-attacks feature in both top 10s, at number five for likelihood and seven for impact, while data fraud is at number four for likelihood, reflecting an overall trend as technology shapes the risk landscape.

Last year saw numerous data breaches, with millions - if not billions - of people’s data affected, as well as continued cyber-attacks on both public and private institutions and businesses.

The vast majority of respondents (82%) expected the risk of cyber-attacks leading to theft of money and data to increase in 2019, with 80% believing they would disrupt operations. The survey says this “reflects how new instabilities are being caused by the deepening integration of digital technologies into every aspect of life”.

In terms of Societal Risk, water crises, defined as “a significant decline in the available quality and quantity of fresh water, resulting in harmful effects on human health and/or economic activity” are a concern that features on both lists - at number four for impact and nine for likelihood.

The report warns of the macroeconomic risks we face as we head into 2019.

The majority of respondents expect increasing risks this year, related to “economic confrontations between major powers” (91%) and “erosion of multilateral trading rules and agreements” (88%).

Financial market volatility and slowing global growth through 2018 are highlighted by the authors - and indeed by the latest International Monetary Fund forecasts.

As a result, the risk of an asset bubble in a major economy is 10th most likely.

How are they connected?

These risks don’t exist in isolation, though. They’re interconnected and each has the potential to affect the others - as the following chart from the report explores.

Consider for example biodiversity loss in the human food chain. This affects health and socioeconomic development, with implications for areas from productivity to regional security.

Image: World Economic Forum

What’s the methodology?

The report’s findings are based on the annual Global Risks Perception Survey, which asks the Forum’s network of business, government, civil society and thought leaders to gauge the risks facing our world.

The survey has four parts, which are outlined as follows:

1. The world in 2019. Respondents were asked whether the risks associated with 42 issues would increase or decrease this year relative to last year.

2. The global risks’ landscape. For 30 global risks, respondents were asked about their likelihood in the next 10 years and its potential impact.

3. Interconnections between pairs of global risks. Respondents were asked to select three to six of the most strongly interconnected global risks.

4. Connections between risks and underlying trends. Respondents had to first identify up to three trends that will shape the global agenda in the next decade. They then had to pick three risks that are most strongly driven by these trends.

These answers then inform the Global Risks Landscape, Interconnections Map and Trends map.