The World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2025, released on January 15, underscores the escalating threats posed by armed conflict and climate change to global economic stability. The report reveals that nearly a quarter of surveyed experts view state-sponsored military conflicts as the most pressing risk for the year, reflecting a significant increase in geopolitical tensions, particularly in regions such as the Middle East and Eastern Europe.
In addition to armed conflict, the report highlights extreme weather events driven by climate change as a critical long-term concern. The ongoing climate crisis is leading to more frequent and severe weather phenomena—such as heatwaves, floods, and wildfires—that are expected to have widespread economic repercussions.
Misinformation also emerges as a significant short-term risk, threatening societal cohesion and governance by undermining trust between nations. The report paints a grim picture of the global landscape, with over half of experts expressing pessimism about the situation in the coming years.
Mirek Dusek, Managing Director of the WEF, emphasized that leaders are at a crossroads, faced with the choice of fostering collaboration or confronting escalating instability. These findings will be pivotal in discussions at the upcoming WEF annual meeting in Davos, where global leaders will seek to address these urgent challenges.