World Economic Forum: it’s the climate, stupid
The disconnected global elite, holed up in the Swiss village of Davos, see extreme weather as the main risk
If you were to answer the question "What is the biggest risk facing the world today?", what would you say? Would your answer be different if you were asked what the global elite think is the biggest risk? Every year, the World Economic Forum (WEF) publishes the results of a questionnaire it sends to participants of the feature Davos event, asking the first question, and so we know the answer to the second. It’s "Extreme weather events". What? On the face of it, this is a curious result. Of course, climate change is a fantastically important issue, but is it really the most important current risk, outweighing matters like the rise in political populism, trade wars, inequality, job losses due to digital disruption and the countless other problems the world faces? The survey says so — and it’s not just extreme weather events but environmental issues in general. This year, the 14th in which the survey has been done, environmental concerns accounted for three of the top five risks by lik...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.