Advertisement
Australia markets closed
  • ALL ORDS

    8,153.70
    +80.10 (+0.99%)
     
  • AUD/USD

    0.6488
    -0.0048 (-0.73%)
     
  • ASX 200

    7,896.90
    +77.30 (+0.99%)
     
  • OIL

    81.80
    +0.45 (+0.55%)
     
  • GOLD

    2,216.50
    +3.80 (+0.17%)
     
  • Bitcoin AUD

    108,847.39
    +1,027.96 (+0.95%)
     
  • CMC Crypto 200

    885.54
    0.00 (0.00%)
     

Chart: The 10 global risks with the biggest impact

Image: Getty
Image: Getty

Extreme weather events is the most likely risk facing the world, but it’s not the risk which would have the biggest impact if it eventuated.

That worrying title goes to the use of weapons of mass destruction, followed by a failure to reckon with climate change, according to the latest Global Risks Report from the World Economic Forum.

“The world is facing a growing number of complex and interconnected challenges,” World Economic Forum president Børge Brende said to mark the release of the report this week.

These include inequality, slowing growth, political tensions and climate change.

“In isolation, these are daunting challenges; faced simultaneously, we will struggle if we do not work together. There has never been a more pressing need for a collaborative and multistakeholder approach to shared global problems.”

ADVERTISEMENT

However, in a rare piece of good news, the researchers found that while weapons of mass destruction have retained their position as the most dangerous risk, the volatility around North Korea’s weapons program has decreased.

Here’s the chart:

Source: World Economic Forum
Source: World Economic Forum

While weapons of mass destruction top the list for impact, luckily they don’t make the top 10 for likelihood.

But extreme weather events like floods and storms do top the list by likelihood, followed by a failure to address climate change.

Source: World Economic Forum
Source: World Economic Forum

Make your money work with Yahoo Finance’s daily newsletter. Sign up here and stay on top of the latest money, news and tech news.

Now read: This global threat keeps Bill Gates awake at night

Now read: Here are the 30 biggest risks to the market in 2019

Now read: Brexit deal crushed: This is what it means for Australia