The report lists five major risks facing the world in 2020. First of all, the unstable geopolitical pattern has triggered global turmoil. The imbalance of world economic, demographic and technological forces leads to new geopolitical instability, and the long-standing international pattern and the values of the multilateral system are questioned. Countries are increasingly responding to challenges and pursuing their own goals through unilateralism and nationalism.
Second, economic stability and social cohesion are threatened. Macroeconomic fragility and financial inequality have brought downward pressure on the global economy and increased the risk of economic slowdown. As leaders of some countries continue to pursue nationalist policies, low trade barriers, prudent fiscal policies and strong global investment, which were once regarded as positive factors for economic growth, are being eroded, and the space for monetary and fiscal policy stimulus measures has narrowed compared with that before the international financial crisis, and macroeconomic uncertainty has increased. In addition, economic confrontation between countries and domestic political polarization between countries are also major risks. Affected by the bleak economic prospects, people are dissatisfied with the status quo, and the way many governments deal with major economic and social issues is also unpopular. The frequent protests around the world have weakened the ability of governments to take decisive actions during the economic downturn, and countries will lack the financial resources, political capital and social support needed to cope with major global risks.
Third, the climate crisis is approaching and the loss of biodiversity is accelerating. In the past five years, natural disasters have become more and more serious and frequent. Last year, the world experienced unprecedented extreme weather. Climate experts warn that global temperature rise will lead to serious life and property, economic, social, environmental and geopolitical consequences, and the short-term impact of climate change will eventually lead to major global emergencies. Environmental problems occupy the first place in global long-term risks. The intensification of biodiversity loss will have a vital negative impact on human beings, with a high risk probability and the speed of species extinction is accelerating compared with the past.
Fourth, the digital divide and network inequality threaten the healthy development of the global economy. Although the development of digital technology and network has brought great economic and social benefits to the whole world, unequal Internet access, lack of global technical governance framework, prominent network security issues and fragmentation of cyberspace constitute major risks, including the collapse of information infrastructure, and also threaten the excavation and utilization of the potential of next-generation network technology.
Fifth, the medical system is under unprecedented pressure. New changes have taken place in social, environmental, demographic and technological patterns. Cardiovascular diseases and mental diseases have replaced infectious diseases as the main causes of human death, and the economic and social costs brought by prolonged life span and chronic disease management have made the health care system in many countries face crisis.
The report predicts that 2020 will be a year of geopolitical turmoil, intensified international differentiation and slowing economic growth, and unilateralism may continue to prevail. The report also predicts the global environmental risk points in the next 10 year, including extreme weather events that cause huge losses such as property losses, infrastructure damage and casualties. The measures taken by the government and enterprises to deal with climate change have failed; Man-made environmental damage and subsequent disasters, including soil damage and the spread of radioactive pollution; The loss of biodiversity and the collapse of ecosystems (land and sea) have brought irreversible consequences to the environment, and the natural resources on which human beings depend have been seriously exhausted; Major natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions and magnetic storms occur frequently.
(Original title: Five major risks facing the world in 2020)