The world has been told that the current rising geopolitical threats cannot derail the globe’s efforts to tackle the looming and increasing risks of climate change.

The warning came as the World Economic Forum issued the 21^st version of its Global Risks Report 2026, which found geoeconomic confrontation emerges as the top risk for the year, followed by interstate conflict, extreme weather, societal polarization and misinformation and disinformation.

The report added the outlook from leaders and experts shows deep concern. Half of those surveyed anticipate a turbulent or stormy world over the next two years, up 14 percentage points from last year.

A further 40% expect the two-year outlook to be unsettled at the very least, while 9% expect stability and 1% predict calm. When it comes to the outlook for the next 10 years, 57% expect a turbulent or stormy world, 32% expect things to be unsettled, 10% predict stability and 1% anticipate calm.

“A new competitive order is taking shape as major powers seek to secure their spheres of interest. This shifting landscape, where cooperation looks markedly different than it did yesterday, reflects a pragmatic reality: collaborative approaches and the spirit of dialogue remain essential,” said Børge Brende, president and CEO, World Economic Forum. “Our Annual Meeting in Davos will serve as a vital platform for understanding risks and opportunities and for building the bridges needed to address them.”

The report analyses risks across three timeframes: immediate (2026); short-to-medium term (the next two years); and long term (the next 10 years). In the near term, armed conflict, the weaponization of economic tools and societal fragmentation are colliding. As these immediate risks intensify, longer-term challenges from technological acceleration to environmental decline are also creating knock-on effects.

“The Global Risks Report offers an early warning system as the age of competition compounds global risks – from geoeconomic confrontation to unchecked technology to rising debt – and changes our collective capacity to address them. But none of these risks are a foregone conclusion,” said Saadia Zahidi, managing director, World Economic Forum. “The challenges highlighted in the report underscore both the scale of the potential perils we face and our shared responsibility to shape what comes next.”

Zahidi added that while the two year outlook has seen environmental risks slipping down the rankings it was still high in the concerns for the ten year horizon.

However she explained: “Environmental risks have fallen in the short term but have risen the in the longer term. This is due to other risks we seek currently. The concern has to be is that if we lose the focus ion environmental risks in the short term we will not  be prepared to meet those challenges in the longer term.”

Experts were quick to comment in the report’s findings.

Andrew George, president, Specialty, Marsh Risk, commented: “Deepening divisions are at the center of the societal risks we all now face, from social fragmentation and inequality, to declining health and wellbeing. Despite the growing severity of these global risks, major governments are moving away from many established frameworks designed to tackle our shared challenges. As a result, divided societies are being driven closer to the brink of social instability and increased conflict.”

In the longer term, the report’s findings underline the emergence of a new age of global competition, with all 33 risks – except geoeconomic confrontation – predicted to increase in severity by business leaders over the next 10 years. According to the report, 57% of respondents predict a turbulent or stormy outlook in the next decade. The 10-year outlook is strongly dominated by the environmental and technological risks.

Alison Martin, CEO Life, Health and Bank Distribution at Zurich, said: “Business leaders in major economies are deeply worried about pensions and public health. These gaps threaten both workforce wellbeing and social stability. Yet, it’s striking that societal risks – like declining health, lack of public infrastructure and social protections – barely register in the 10-year risk outlook, even though their effects are already reshaping our world. If we don’t act with urgency and collaboration, we risk ignoring the very threats that could define our future.”

According to the report, advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum computing will greatly impact labor markets, societal structures, infrastructure and geopolitics, and may contribute to widening global economic gaps. Critical infrastructure – exposed to various threats, from the cutting of undersea cables to the disruption of satellites – will also require substantial investment for modernization.

Peter Giger, Group chief risk officer, Zurich, added: “Despite extreme weather, cyberattacks and geopolitical conflicts posing escalating threats, disruptions to critical infrastructure ranked just 23rd among global risks for the next decade. This is a dangerous oversight. From power grids strained by record heat to coastal cities at risk from rising seas, we rely on systems that are underprepared and underfunded. When infrastructure fails, everything else is at risk. We must recognize how interconnected these threats are and invest now to strengthen resilience before the next crisis hits.”

George concluded: “Advancements in AI and quantum computing are rapidly reshaping labor markets and geopolitics, with profound implications that will revolutionize individuals’ lives, enhance our health and prosperity, and shape the future of nations. As automation and quantum breakthroughs accelerate, government and business must work together to address the challenges created by role redundancy, economic concentration, and the potential for systemic disruptions in critical infrastructure and digital trust.”