Introduction
The 2019 Global Risk Report highlights numerous issues and problems that the modern world faces. People are concerned about the future and the possible troubles it may hold – natural disasters, cyberattacks, unemployment or underemployment, geopolitical conflicts, and others. This discussion post will cover the analysis of the first risk in terms of likelihood – extreme weather events and weapons of mass destruction, which are among the risks in terms of impact.
The Two Problems in Different Terms
Extreme weather events dominate the survey as the top risk in terms of likelihood for three consecutive years. There is nothing unusual about the respondents’ answers. People used to relate to the events of the present they are living in and the problems they are facing.
During the analysis of the report, the leading risk after the 2008 economic crisis was the potential for price collapse to occur in succession, both in terms of likelihood and impact. This example explains the relationship between weather and people’s concerns. The global risk of extreme weather events has been a dominant theme in the report for three years.
The 2019 Global Risks Report presents facts about ongoing issues worldwide and explains their relevance. For instance, 2018 was a year marked by storms, fires, and floods (p. 15). Moreover, various organizations warn society about climate change, which has a profound impact on flora and fauna.
The first top risk in terms of impact is weapons of mass destruction. War is one of the most terrifying events the world can face. The conflicts between powerful states can lead to the use of nuclear or chemical bombs. The report was released in 2019, and concerns about potential risks had already been raised before its release.
The events of the years that followed 2019 are proof that concerns were not unfounded. For instance, the war that Russia started against Ukraine in 2022 terrifies the world. According to Tannenwald (2022), Russian President Vladimir Putin wants the world, and the United States in particular, to think and believe that nuclear weapons can be used. The President of Russia threatened at the beginning of a “special military operation” to everyone who might want to help Ukraine resolve the conflict. The question of the probable usage of weapons of mass destruction is all over the mass media.
Conclusion
The report presents a summary of the respondents’ answers, analyzed by the development of their region. The weather has not been stable for several years, resulting in natural disasters and climate change. This explains the concern of the people and their ranking as the first in the table of risks in terms of likelihood. Weapons of mass destruction are a probable risk, but one that can have a severe impact on people’s lives.
References
The World Economic Forum. (2019). The Global Risks Report 2019.
Tannenwald, N. (2022). Is Using Nuclear Weapons Still Taboo?Foreign Policy Magazine.