The World Economic Forum’s annual survey identifies armed conflict and extreme weather as immediate risks, while long-term concerns centre on climate change and technological challenges.
World leaders have highlighted escalating armed conflict as the most pressing global threat for 2025, while the climate crisis is expected to dominate concerns over the next decade, according to the World Economic Forum (WEF).
Ahead of the WEF’s annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, next week, more than 900 leaders from various sectors, including business, politics, and academia, were surveyed about the risks they perceive as most urgent.
Looking specifically at the year ahead, 23% of respondents pointed to “state-based armed conflict” as the biggest threat, exacerbated by ongoing wars, such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, along with deadly clashes in Sudan and Gaza. Additionally, 14% of those surveyed identified “extreme weather events” as a significant concern for 2025, citing the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles as a prominent example.
Last year saw catastrophic weather events such as floods, droughts, and fires, highlighting the growing impact of climate change. Experts have warned that rising global temperatures are making such events both more frequent and more intense. When asked to consider long-term risks, respondents listed four major climate-related issues among their top ten concerns: extreme weather events, biodiversity loss, changes to Earth systems, and resource shortages.
Gim Huay Neo, managing director of the WEF, emphasised the urgency of addressing the climate and nature crisis, noting that 2024 saw global warming reach a record 1.54°C above pre-industrial levels, contributing to unprecedented weather disasters worldwide.
Concerns related to technological innovation were also prominent, with “misinformation and disinformation” and “negative outcomes of AI technologies” following closely behind the climate-related risks. As misinformation concerns grow, particularly with Donald Trump’s return to power in the US, the issue of online regulation is becoming a key topic. Trump’s alignment with Silicon Valley figures who advocate for less stringent online policies is expected to influence global discourse on digital platforms.
Artificial intelligence, while seen as a potential driver of economic growth, also raises alarms about its risks. Some experts warn that AI could pose existential threats to humanity if its capabilities surpass human intelligence.
This year’s Davos meeting, which will be held against the backdrop of Trump’s inauguration, is expected to host 60 heads of state and government, along with top CEOs and activists. The theme of the event is “a call for collaboration in the intelligent age”, although there are concerns that Trump’s administration could hinder cooperation on global issues, including climate change. Trump has suggested that he would withdraw the US from the Paris climate agreement and increase fossil fuel extraction, which may complicate international efforts to tackle climate change.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to address the gathering, seeking global support for Ukraine’s ongoing conflict with Russia. Trump has claimed he will end the war swiftly, though the specifics of his approach remain unclear.
