Page 10 - WEF Reoprt 2020

be more ambitious when it comes to climate McLennan and Zurich Insurance Group,
action, the UN has warned that countries who offered invaluable input to produce
have veered off course when it comes to this publication. I am also grateful to our
meeting their commitments under the Paris academic partners: the National University
Agreement on climate change. of Singapore, the Oxford Martin School of
the University of Oxford, and the Wharton
And on global health and technology, we Risk Management and Decision Processes
caution that international systems have Center at the University of Pennsylvania.
not kept up to date with the challenges of Over the course of developing the report,
these domains. The global community is the Forum benefited from a committed
ill-positioned to address vulnerabilities that Advisory Board, who shaped the direction
have come alongside the advancements of early drafts and provided beneficial
of the 20 century, whether they be the comments and insight throughout the
th
widening application of artificial intelligence writing process. The Forum also hosted a
or the widespread use of antibiotics. range of representatives from the public and
private sectors in September and October
Today’s risk landscape is being shaped for discussions in Geneva, New York and
in significant measure by an unsettled Washington, DC, insights from which can
geopolitical environment—one in which be found in these pages.
new centres of power and influence are
forming—as old alliance structures and The foundation of the report is our
global institutions are being tested. While annual Global Risks Perception Survey,
these changes can create openings for new completed by approximately 800 members
partnership structures, in the immediate of the Forum’s diverse communities. I am
term, they are putting stress on systems of particularly proud that for the first time we
coordination and challenging norms around are also featuring the results from more
shared responsibility. Unless stakeholders than 200 members of our Global Shapers
adapt multilateral mechanisms for this Community—a generation of emerging
turbulent period, the risks that were once global social entrepreneurs and leaders.
on the horizon will continue to arrive. This younger generation is increasingly
using its digital savviness—and its feet—to
The good news is that the window for action is spotlight issues, particularly relating to
still open, if not for much longer. And, despite climate change, that it sees as existential
global divisions, we continue to see members risks not only to its generation but to the
of the business community signal their wider global community.
commitment to looking beyond their balance
sheets and towards the urgent priorities ahead. The Global Risks Report is part of an
expanded Global Risks Initiative launched
by the Forum this past year that includes
The Global Risks Initiative sustained analysis at the global, regional
and industry levels. It is this qualitative and
It is fitting that this year’s report, which quantitative study of global risks, conducted
makes clear the need for a multistakeholder in partnership with members of the business,
approach to mitigating risk, coincides academic and public-sector communities,
with the Forum’s 50 anniversary. As the that we hope will help bring stakeholders
th
international organization for public-private together in developing sustainable,
cooperation, the Forum brings together integrated solutions to the world’s most
leaders from the business, government and pressing challenges.
non-profit communities for action-oriented
deliberations and uses the conclusions of
this report to inform its multistakeholder
initiatives throughout the year.

Indeed, the Global Risks Report is itself the
result of a multistakeholder process. I am
grateful for the long-standing relationship Børge Brende
with our strategic partners, Marsh & President, World Economic Forum

The Global Risks Report 2020 5