The unprecedented disruptions emerging as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic have drawn attention to the critical importance of global risks around the world. We know that global risks are increasingly complex, uncertain, systemic, and dynamic. To tackle global risks effectively, we need a stronger understanding of the likelihood, impact, and linkages between a wide range of risks. This report shares the findings of the second iteration of the Global Risks Scientists’ Perceptions survey, conducted in partnership between Future Earth, the International Science Council (ISC), and Sustainability in the Digital Age. It was designed to complement the World Economic Forum’s annual Global Risks Report, which reports on the global risk perceptions of leaders from business, economics, and government. Our report further contributes to the discourse with an international analysis of scientists’ perceptions of global risks. Our aim is to spark dialogue, identify knowledge gaps, and support the growth of a multi-sectoral scientific community working to better understand and provide solutions to global risks.

This research was funded in part by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada