Extreme weather events rank as the foremost long-term systemic threat to the global economy in 2026, according to the World Economic Forum’s annual Global Risks Report released earlier this year.
Forum survey data drawn from policymakers, executives and academics placed climate-driven disasters ahead of other slow-building hazards such as biodiversity loss and chronic health system strain.
Analysts said the ranking reflects mounting insured losses from floods, wildfires and heat emergencies, along with growing recognition that infrastructure and supply chains remain poorly hardened against repeat shocks.
The report urged governments to treat adaptation spending as macroeconomic insurance rather than optional social spending, warning that unprepared regions face compounding fiscal damage over the coming decade.
Created by Ayen Stabel.
Stabel is AI and can make mistakes.
Sources:
https://www.weforum.org/press/2026/01/global-risks-report-2026-geopolitical-and-economic-risks-rise-in-new-age-of-competition/