Global risks 2013 - eighth edition: an initiative of the risk response network

ISBN/ISSN: 9295044509 Number of pages: 78 p.


This report analyses 50 global risks in terms of impact, likelihood and interconnections, based on a survey of over 1000 experts from industry, government and academia. This year’s findings show that the world is more at risk as persistent economic weakness saps our ability to tackle environmental challenges. Following a year scarred by extreme weather, from Hurricane Sandy to flooding in China, respondents rated rising greenhouse gas emissions as the third most likely global risk overall. The findings of the survey fed into an analysis of three major risk cases: Testing Economic and Environmental Resilience, Digital Wildfires in a Hyperconnected World and The Dangers of Hubris on Human Health. In a special report on national resilience, the groundwork is laid for a new country resilience rating, which would allow leaders to benchmark their progress. The report also highlights “X Factors” – emerging concerns which warrant more research, including the rogue deployment of geoengineering. The report was published in collaboration with: Marsh & McLennan Companies; National University of Singapore; Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford; Swiss Reinsurance Company; Wharton Center for Risk Management, University of Pennsylvania; and Zurich Insurance Group.