The World Economic Forum released its Global Risks Report for 2026. Issued in tandem with the WEF’s Davos Conference each January, the report surveys over 1,300 experts from across the globe about current, short-term and long-term concerns.

Mark Beasley, director of the Enterprise Risk Management Initiative and the Alan T. Dickson Distinguished Professor of Accounting at Poole College of Management, dove into the report and shared his takeaways.

Right off the bat, uncertainty is high among respondents: 50% said that the short-term outlook was “turbulent” or “stormy,” and 57% said the same about the long-term outlook. The top risk for both current year and in the short-term (two years out) is geopolitical confrontation, in light of rising nationalism and fraying alliances among traditional partners. The top three long-term (10 years out) risks are all related to climate change and environmental issues, with extreme weather events in the top position.

Beasley found five critical takeaways from the report:

1. Geopolitical instability dominates the global risk landscape.
2. Misinformation has become a structural threat to trust and stability.
3. Societal polarization threatens market stability and workforce cohesion.
4. Environmental risks will define the long-term risk horizon.
5. Technology risks — especially AI and cybersecurity — are rising sharply.
   

To learn more, including strategic responses to each risk, read Beasley’s executive takeaways on the ERM website.