Report: Global Risks 2009
A report recently released by the World Economic Forum reports on the changing profile of 36 major risk areas. Published in cooperation with Citigroup, MMC (Marsh & McLennan Companies), Swiss Re, the Wharton School Risk Center and Zurich Financial Services, the report is based on a qualitative assessment of global risks, workshops and input from business leaders and experts consulted throughout 2008.
Last year’s report accurately warned of an imminent systemic crisis in the financial sector as well as volatility in the energy market and food shortages.
The 36 risks explored are:
ECONOMIC
1. Food price volatility
2. Oil and gas price spikes
3. Major fall in US$
4. Slowing Chinese economy (6%)
5. Fiscal crises
6. Asset price collapses
7. Retrenchment from globalization (developed)
8. Retrenchment from globalization (emerging)
9. Regulation costs
10. Underinvestment in infrastructure
GEOPOLITICAL
11. International terrorism
12. Collapse of NPT (Non-Proliferation Treaty)
13. US/Iran conflict
14. US/DPRK (North Korea) conflict
15. Afghanistan instability
16. Transnational crime and corruption
17. Israel-Palestine conflict
18. Violence in Iraq
19. Global governance gaps
ENVIRONMENTAL
20. Extreme climate change related weather
21. Droughts and desertification
22. Loss of freshwater
23. Natural Catastrophes: Cyclone
24. NatCat: Earthquake
25. NatCat: Inland flooding
26. NatCat: Coastal flooding
27. Air pollution
28. Biodiversity loss
SOCIETAL
29. Pandemic
30. Infectious disease
31. Chronic disease
32. Liability regimes
33. Migration
TECHNOLOGICAL
34. CII (critical information infrastructure) breakdown
35. Emergence of nanotechnology
36. Data fraud/loss
Read the entire report by clicking here.
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For more insights on the issue of risk management as well as how it impacts business continuity, read: A Risk Management Approach to Business Continuity: Aligning Business Continuity with Corporate Governance.
