The risk of extreme weather ending human existence is topped only by the risk posed by weapons of mass destruction. A global survey released by the World Economic Forum on Wednesday showed that for the second year in a row, the dangers of extreme weather are only second to that of nuclear missiles and other such weaponry. And in terms of both likelihood and impact, extreme world weather events are the number one concern, according to the survey.
“Environmental risks have grown in prominence over the 13-year history of the Global Risks Report, and this trend continued,” the authors wrote. “Among the most pressing environmental challenges facing us are extreme weather events and temperatures; accelerating biodiversity loss; pollution of air, soil and water; failures of climate change mitigation and adaptation; and transition risks as we move to a low-carbon future.”
Extreme weather, natural disasters and the failure to mitigate and adapt to climate change were all in the top five global risks in terms of impact, according to the global survey. The report is based on the perceived risks from nearly 1,000 experts from around the world, most of whom were European men with expertise in economics and technology who worked at a business organization.
Related Books
