Climate, technology, and social disparities: The World in 2017 – business Newspaper (press release)

The Global Risk Report 2017 by the World Economic Forum reveals the three major trends that will shape global developments over the next ten years, highlighting economic inequality, social polarisation, and the intensification of environmental threats.

The annual report was attended by about 750 experts who evaluated 30 global risks, as well as 13 underlying trends, which could make them larger or change the interconnections between them.

in A context of growing discontent and political disorder throughout the world, the three main findings conclude that it is necessary a collaborative action from world leaders to avoid more difficulties and volatility in the next decade.

The patterns persist with the growing disparity of income and wealth as well as the increasing polarization of societies, with the risks linked to the high structural unemployment or underemployment and profound social instability.

The environment dominates the panorama of risks, with the problem of climate change to emerge as risk prominent.

And, for the first time, all five of the environmental risks of the survey were considered high risk, such as high likelihood.

While the world can point to significant advances in the area of climate change in 2016 for ratification, with a large number of adherents, of the Agreement of Paris, the political change in Europe and in North America puts this progress at risk.

"it Is required an urgent action among the leaders to identify ways to overcome the political differences or ideological beliefs, and work together to solve the critical challenges. The dynamics of 2016 to address climate change demonstrates that this is possible.", said Margareta Drzeniek-Hanouz, Head of Global Competitiveness, the World Economic Forum.

finally, it appears the risks associated with the technology, in the sense of the society does not keep up with the pace of technological change.

The experts have identified the artificial intelligence and robotic as the ones that have the largest potential benefits, but also the greatest potential effect of negative and the greatest need of a better government.

John Drzik, President of Global Risk & Specialties of Marsh, said: "The artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to offer enormous benefits in sectors from Manufacturing and Transport, to Financial Services, and Health. However, a greater confidence in the IA will create new threats and intensifying existing ones, such as cyber and social instability, making it crucial parallel development of risk governance."

Cecilia Reyes, Chief Risk Officer of Zurich Insurance Group says that "we Live in times of rupture, where the technological progress also creates challenges. Without proper governance and re-qualification of workers, the technology will eventually eliminate jobs more quickly than the will to create."

According to the same, has gained strength of a narrative anti-system, with the new leaders blame globalization for the challenges of society, "creating a vicious cycle in which lower economic growth will only increase the inequality. Cooperation is essential to avoid the deterioration of public finances and the exacerbation of social unrest".

The complex transitions that the world is crossing at the moment, from the preparation to the climate change to technological change puts even more emphasis on the need of the leaders throwing in the thought, in the investment and international cooperation in the long term.