WWF responds to WEF Global Risks Report 2026

Responding to the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2026, WWF calls on decision makers to prioritise action to address systemic climate and nature threats.

With global temperatures exceeding 1.5°C in 2024 and 2025 recently being declared the third warmest year on record, the perceived risks identified in the report are already becoming a stark reality around the world. Action in 2026 to get the world back on track to meet 2030 global climate and nature targets will be essential to reducing these systemic risks, according to WWF.

The Global Risks Report 2026 counts extreme weather events and pollution among the greatest perceived short-term threats, while five environmental concerns dominate the top 10 long-term risks, including extreme weather, biodiversity loss, pollution and critical changes to Earth’s systems.

Commenting on the publication of the WEF Global Risks Report 2026, Kirsten Schuijt, Director General of WWF International, said:

“The latest findings in the WEF report reflect the devastating reality felt by many, as temperatures continue to hit record highs, and the natural systems our societies and economies depend on are pushed to their limits.

"Unless we take urgent action, societies and ecosystems across the world face even harsher, irreversible damage. To prevent this, we need to see action in 2026 that brings about system-wide changes to the way we produce and consume food and energy, coupled with new efforts to increase restoration, resilience and reverse the decline of nature. At the same time, sectors must work together to redefine the value of nature, by placing its long-term prosperity at the heart of investment, and making thriving ecosystems the most valuable assets we have.

“Together, we can still build a better future for communities across the world”.