Environment & Energy
Related: About this forumWorld Economic Forum - Perfect Storm Of Climate Breakdown, Inequality, Water & Food Shortage Awaits
The annual report from the World Economic Forum (WEF) warns the world is headed for a perfect storm over the next decade because of a combination of steadily rising greenhouse gas emissions, persistent economic weakness and staggering debt, and severe income disparity.
The Global Risks 2013 report informed by a survey of more than 1,000 experts and industry leaders - identifies the resistance to addressing climate change as one of the most dangerous trends.
"Continued stress on the global economic system is positioned to absorb the attention of leaders for the foreseeable future," notes the report. "Meanwhile, the Earth's environmental system is simultaneously coming under increasing stress. Future simultaneous shocks to both systems could trigger the 'perfect global storm' with potentially insurmountable consequences."
Coping with the economic and climate change crises is unfortunately no longer seen as a continuum, but as opposing choices. The idea has gained ground that we can't have solutions to both. But we need to go beyond this thinking-in-boxes approach. So because smart risk management is about taking a holistic stance on situations, we should do the same when it comes to the economic and climate change challenges we're facing, says David Cole, Group Chief Risk Officer of Swiss Re.
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http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/news.display/id/24474
CRH
(1,553 posts)before individual government policies?
While the governments of India, China, and the US continue to interfere with climate talks, Price Waterhouse Coopers, The World Bank, and now the World Economic Forum, basically bean counters all, sound the alarm.
Even the US - National Climate Assessment last week informs of the problems associated with the changing climate.
At the WEF they are now beginning to see the climate change crisis as antagonistic to expanding economy, and intimate a future depending on 'opposing choices'. A view increasingly accepted, 'we can't have solutions to both'!
The fog clears, albeit to late.
hatrack
(59,564 posts)"After you!"
"No, no, dear chap, after you!"
No, no, after you!"
CRH
(1,553 posts)'No, I insist you first', as the door is opened to the future blast furnace.
pscot
(21,024 posts)Within 10 we'll have a clear view of what's coming. there's going to be a panic response fueled by public fear and anger.
daleanime
(17,796 posts)Every action we take, as a nation or individually, needs to take this into account.