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World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report found nuclear war, extreme weather top list of 2018 global threats

Nuclear war, extreme weather top list of 2018 global threats, SMH, Kim Hjelmgaard, 18 Jan 18, London: Nuclear war, cyber attacks and environmental disasters top the list of man-made threats to global stability in 2018, according to a survey of 1000 international leaders from business, government, education and service groups.

The threat of another global financial meltdown, more likely in past years, has ebbed because of economic expansions underway worldwide, the annual World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report found. It was released on Wednesday in advance of the forum’s meeting next week in Davos, Switzerland.

Mother Nature topped the most significant risks facing the world for a second year in a row, the survey showed. That includes natural disasters and extreme weather events that human-caused climate change may be abetting.

The risk of nuclear war climbed up the list of concerns as a result of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s tests of ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons, and US President Donald Trump’s bellicose vows to annihilate North Korea if it launches an attack.

A near unanimous 93 per cent of respondents expect a worsening of “political or economic confrontations/frictions between major powers” this year. Nearly 80 per cent think risks associated with “state-on-state military conflict or incursion” and “regional conflicts drawing in major powers” will be higher than in years past.

Trump will join other world and business leaders in the Swiss Alpine resort January 23-26 for the forum, where he is scheduled to give the closing address, organisers said……….

The greatest concerns for North American business leaders are cyber attacks, terrorism, asset bubbles, fiscal crises and the failure of adapting to climate change……… http://www.smh.com.au/world/nuclear-war-extreme-weather-top-list-of-2018-global-threats-20180117-h0k0ce.html

January 19, 2018 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | 2 WORLD, safety