WEF (World Economic Forum) has released the 16th edition of the Global Risk Report, 2021. These are considered to be the most pressing, severe global risks across five categories: environmental risks, financial and non-financial shocks, geopolitics, fundamental technology-driven change, and societal polarisation.
Report findings are based on the Global Risks Perception Survey (GRPS). GRPS was undertaken by more than 650 members of leadership communities of WEF (World Economic Forum).
The risk posed by infectious diseases has been ranked as no. 1 on the list of risks, while in 2020 was listed at 10th place.
The immediate human and economic cost of COVID-19 is huge. It threatens to scale back years of progress on reducing global poverty and inequality. It will also damage social cohesion and global cooperation.
Despite the impact of COVID-19, climate-related matters make up the bulk of this year’s risk list. The report has described these threats as an existential threat to humanity.
Digitalization which was accelerated by the pandemic is widening the digital gap between individuals and across countries. Thereby it is aggravating existing inequalities, polarization, and regulatory uncertainties.
Businesses under increasing pressures from inward-looking national agendas, greater market concentration, and popular scrutiny and volatility.
According to the report, response to COVID-19 offers four governance opportunities to strengthen the overall resilience of countries, businesses, and the international community:
