Global Risks Escalate: Armed Conflict, Extreme Weather, and Disinformation Top Concerns for 2025
DAVOS, Switzerland – The world stands at a precarious juncture, grappling with a confluence of interconnected risks that threaten global stability and prosperity. A new report by the World Economic Forum (WEF), released ahead of its annual meeting in Davos, highlights the escalating dangers of armed conflict, extreme weather events, and the pervasive spread of misinformation. These interconnected challenges are straining the global system, demanding urgent action from world leaders to foster collaboration and build resilience.
The WEF’s "Global Risks Report 2025" paints a stark picture of the current global landscape, based on a survey of over 900 experts, policymakers, and industry leaders. A significant 23% of respondents identified state-based armed conflict as the most pressing concern for 2025, a stark reflection of rising geopolitical tensions and a fractured world order. This marks a notable shift from just two years ago, when armed conflict was not considered a leading short-term risk. The ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, visualized in the accompanying image of smoke-filled skies above devastated buildings in Gaza, serves as a grim reminder of the devastating human cost of armed conflict.
Exacerbating these geopolitical tensions is the insidious spread of misinformation and disinformation, ranked as a top risk over a two-year horizon for the second consecutive year. The proliferation of false and misleading information online, often amplified by social media algorithms, erodes trust in institutions, fuels societal polarization, and complicates efforts to address critical global challenges. This digital deluge of manipulated information further destabilizes an already fragile global order, contributing to increased tensions and hindering constructive dialogue.
Beyond the immediate threats of conflict and disinformation, the long-term risks identified in the report are dominated by environmental concerns. Extreme weather events, including heatwaves, floods, and tornadoes, feature prominently in both short-term and long-term risk assessments. The accelerating climate crisis is intensifying these events, posing significant threats to human lives, infrastructure, and global ecosystems. Biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse further compound the environmental challenges, threatening the delicate balance of the natural world and the vital services it provides.
The WEF report underscores the interconnected nature of these risks, highlighting the complex interplay between geopolitical tensions, environmental degradation, and technological disruptions. Carolina Klint, chief commercial officer at Marsh McLennan Europe, characterized the global risk landscape as a "squirrel’s nest," where risks are intertwined and layered upon one another, creating a highly challenging environment for businesses and policymakers alike. This interconnectedness necessitates a holistic approach to risk management, recognizing that addressing one challenge in isolation can exacerbate others.
As nearly 3,000 leaders from over 130 countries convene in Davos, the WEF report serves as a stark wake-up call. Mirek Dušek, managing director at WEF, emphasizes the critical choice facing global leaders: to embrace collaboration and resilience or to confront escalating instability. The report underscores that the stakes have never been higher, urging leaders to prioritize cooperation and decisive action to mitigate these interconnected risks and build a more sustainable and secure future. Failure to address these challenges collectively could lead to a cascade of crises, with far-reaching consequences for global stability and human well-being. The world watches as leaders gather in Davos, hoping for decisive action to navigate this perilous landscape and steer humanity towards a more secure and prosperous future.