No. 1 global risk is international conflict, says WEF Global Risks 2015 Report

According to the 10th Global Risks 2015 report published by the World Economic Forum (WEF) on Jan. 15, the biggest threat to world stability in the next 10 years is the risk of international conflict. A quick scan of the current news channels and newspaper headlines confirms that finding.

Each year, experts assess the top global risks in terms of likelihood and potential impact over the coming 10 years. For 2015, the experts identified the No. 1 global risk in terms of likelihood, and fourth most serious risk in terms of impact, as interstate conflict with regional consequences. In terms of potential impact, the nearly 900 experts participating in the Global Risk Perception Survey rated water crises as the greatest risk facing the world. These water crises include the effect of droughts and flooding around the world.