After reading this article, it’s perfectly normal to find yourself asking, “Where is the world heading? What kind of era are we living in?” It’s a good idea to stay cautious and take appropriate measures. As always, I’ve included my thoughts on how we can mitigate these risks.
Without further ado, let me summarize the content of the LinkedIn video I encountered, which you can watch via this link: https://rb.gy/wuq1v3
Five Major Risks the World Faces in 2025
1) State-Based Armed Conflicts
Wars are still ongoing in Ukraine, the Middle East, and Sudan. In 2023–2024, one in every seven people around the world was affected by conflict. Over the past year, there has been a 15% increase in political violence. According to leading experts consulted for the Global Risks Report, armed conflict ranks as the most significant risk currently facing the world.
2) Extreme Weather Events and Air Pollution
Continued use of fossil fuels is increasing the risk of floods, wildfires, and storms. Experts report that extreme weather events in 2022 and 2023 resulted in total damages of $451 billion, with $143 billion of that amount directly attributed to climate change each year.
3) Geoeconomic Conflicts (Such as Trade Wars and Tariffs)
There is a growing trend toward protectionist trade policies and increasing uncertainty in the global economic environment.
4) Misinformation and Disinformation
As AI tools become more widely accessible, the spread of false or misleading information is accelerating. This can lead to civil unrest and restrictions on the flow of information.
5) Societal Polarization
Political polarization and inequality are eroding trust in institutions and weakening the sense of shared values.
Other major risks looming over the world this year include a potential recession in the global economy, which is still grappling with inflationary aftershocks, as well as critical shifts in the planet’s vital ecosystems, such as ocean warming and glacial melting.
Each year, the Global Risks Report surveys over 900 experts about the most serious risks we face. When asked to assess the outlook for the next two and 10 years, nearly two-thirds of respondents predict the coming decade will be turbulent or stormy. None of the experts anticipate a calm future.
Projected Timeframes for Emerging Threats
After summarizing the video’s content, I’d now like to present the key risks highlighted in the 2025 Global Risks Report, including the expected timeframes. (For this part, I consulted ChatGPT.)
In this survey of more than 900 experts, the most critical risks were evaluated across three timeframes:
- Short-Term (by 2025)
- Mid-Term (by 2027)
- Long-Term (by 2035)
Short-Term Risks (2025)
- State-Based Armed Conflicts
Due to ongoing geopolitical tensions and conflicts, this is projected as the greatest risk of 2025.
- Misinformation and Disinformation
One of the most dominant risks within the two-year horizon. False narratives fuel greater polarization in society.
- Societal Polarization
Further exacerbated by disinformation, this is emphasized as a serious societal risk.
Mid-Term Risks (by 2027)
- Cybersecurity Threats
The risks of cyber espionage and cyberwarfare are on the rise. High-profile attacks are increasingly causing global concern.
- Economic Instability
Although economic risks like inflation and recession have dropped slightly in the rankings, the threat of economic contraction is resurging in the short term.
Long-Term Risks (by 2035)
- Environmental Challenges
Climate-related threats—such as extreme weather events and biodiversity loss—are among the most prominent long-term risks.
- Technological Risks
The negative impacts of artificial intelligence technologies are expected to increase. The rapid developments in this field must be closely monitored.
In summary, the report emphasizes that addressing these multi-layered risks will require global cooperation and proactive measures.
The 3 Additional Major Risks I Foresee
Now let me share the risks I believe should also be taken seriously. Beyond those listed above, there are three additional threats that pose significant danger to humanity:
1) Nuclear Risk
I’m sure the experts who completed the survey mentioned nuclear risk somewhere in their responses. Still, I was surprised it wasn’t listed among the top priorities. In my view, the nuclear threat is not only real—it’s urgent. If one nuclear-armed country were to attack another, it could trigger a chain reaction that leads to full-scale nuclear war. Such a conflict wouldn’t just kill millions—it could claim billions of lives or leave people with permanent and catastrophic injuries. Need an example? A worst-case scenario would be heightened tensions between the U.S. and Russia and/or China. This could potentially lead to the near eradication of humanity.
Likewise, a nuclear conflict between India and Pakistan—which together make up about one-fifth of the global population—would have devastating consequences. Tensions between Israel and Iran could also escalate into nuclear warfare. Should that happen, it could take centuries to restore peace and prosperity in the Middle East.
2) Disasters Not Caused by Climate Change
We’re all familiar with extreme natural events triggered by climate change—floods, avalanches, landslides, and the like. But there are also natural disasters whose causes are unrelated to climate change—such as earthquakes. In this era of constant geological activity and transformation, the frequency of earthquakes and aftershocks is steadily rising. In response to this growing threat, many regions around the world must begin reinforcing existing urban infrastructure, while newly planned cities must be designed to be fully earthquake-resistant from the ground up.
In addition to non-climate-related natural disasters, we must also contend with human-induced ones. Wildfires are a clear example. While many forest fires are fueled or worsened by climate change, others are deliberately started for selfish gain. Unfortunately, in countries like Turkey and Greece, some people—believing they’re being clever—set fire to their own forests in the name of getting rich, destroying natural resources in the process.
3) Inability to Meet Basic Human Needs
Unfortunately, the situation stemming from extreme poverty can lead to people being unable to meet their basic needs, such as food, hygiene, heating, clothing, and shelter. Of the more than 200 government systems established worldwide, very few have minimized such fundamental problems. In most countries, billions of people still cannot meet their basic needs. This, as I mentioned in the previous article, can lead to another man-made disaster: forced migration. Forced migration can also alter the dynamics of other countries and bring with it a host of problems. It leads to problems such as increased crime rates, disturbed peace among the people of the host country, and the exposure of the ugly face of humanity, such as racism.
I don’t know if people were more comfortable in the past, but I can say that the world we live in is increasingly deteriorating. If necessary measures are not taken, we will undoubtedly leave future generations with a world worse than the one we live in. The requirements for leaving a better world for future generations are also very clear. If countries begin to take the necessary steps to address the measures I outline below, we can make a significant difference:
1) How Can State-Based Armed Conflicts Be Prevented?
By establishing regional alliances—like the European Union, that discourage conflict and encourage cooperation between neighboring countries. Instead of fighting, neighbors should unite and build strength together.
2) How Can Extreme Weather Events and Air Pollution Be Mitigated?
By banning the use of fossil fuels for energy and fully transitioning to 100% renewable energy. Fossil fuels are valuable raw materials. Rather than burning them and increasing carbon emissions, they should be used in manufacturing—like in petrochemical production for plastics—and those plastics should be continuously recycled. As for transportation, small vehicles should be solar-electric, while large vehicles (trucks, ships, airplanes) should run on hydrogen.
3) How Can We Overcome Geoeconomic Conflicts?
All countries and regional blocs need to develop self-sufficiency strategies. In other words, in a global structure where each nation or union can meet the needs of its own population, geoeconomic conflicts would resolve themselves. Planning should center on access to food, water, and energy. I believe every country can achieve this with the help of technology—provided there is the political will to do so.
4) Can Misinformation and Disinformation Be Prevented?
While it may never be eliminated entirely, it can certainly be minimized. This requires governments to establish strict criteria for the use of artificial intelligence and implement strong deterrents.
Developing technologies that can instantly detect and filter out misleading or false information will also play a critical role.
5) How Can Social Polarization Be Eradicated?
Creating an education system that embraces everyone, promotes empathy, and instills a culture of tolerance can protect future generations from societal polarization. In the short term, we must also reduce the influence of politicians—who unfortunately often stoke division to maintain or expand their power—by leveraging technology.
To help you picture how this could work, here’s an example: If the operations of ministries, municipalities, governors’ offices, and all public institutions were fully digitized, we could prevent corruption and eliminate the need for politicians who pit people against each other just to stay in office.
6) How Can We Eliminate the Nuclear Risk?
There’s only one way: ban nuclear activity worldwide. This risk has the potential to wipe out humanity itself, and the only way to eliminate it is to outlaw all nuclear research and activity on Earth. Instead, such work should be relocated to extraterrestrial environments—such as the Moon or Mars. In addition, all nuclear weapons must be systematically and gradually dismantled. It’s important that nuclear technology itself continues, because I believe its only legitimate use should be advancing space travel. From a technological standpoint, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with nuclear science—on the contrary, as the pinnacle of scientific advancement, I find it all fascinating. The real issue is the human risk factor. To prevent nuclear accidents or wars, we must remove that risk from Earth entirely. That’s why all nuclear-related activity must be moved off the planet. We only have one Earth—and we must do whatever it takes to protect it.
7) Can We Prevent Disasters Unrelated to Climate Change?
The first step is to live in buildings designed to withstand natural disasters like earthquakes and forest fires. City planning must also be reimagined to minimize the damage caused by such events. As for man-made disasters, one effective method of prevention is implementing strict, deterrent penalties—and applying them consistently, with no exceptions.
8) Will We Ever See a World Where Everyone Can Meet Their Basic Needs?
Yes—especially with the help of technology. All buildings should be designed to be self-sufficient. At the very least, every structure should generate its own energy and water. On a district level, every community should be capable of producing its own food. Access to basic needs should be a fundamental right of citizenship. If necessary, governments should provide all citizens with a basic income or free access to essential goods and services.
Long Live This World!
You might be inclined to echo the words of Orhan Gencebay’s legendary tune “Let This World Go to Hell”—a song that expresses values completely opposite to those I stand for. You may even find yourself asking, “Did I create all this pain and sorrow?” (Listen here). But the solutions I’ve outlined above are achievable—and each of us has a part to play. Even if you’re not in a position to influence large systems or policies, individual action can still make a powerful difference. If enough people change their habits and lifestyle choices, the cumulative effect could be world changing. For example, you could replace your gasoline-powered car with an electric vehicle. Or, budget permitting, you could install a solar energy system in your home. There are countless other actions you could take. If millions—or even billions—of people make individual changes, we can transform the world at its core.
So, let’s stop saying “Let this world go to hell” and start declaring together: “Long live this world!” And let’s join forces to make it better for everyone.
Tag: ecology
