Water crises are ranked the fifth biggest world risk by impact, before cyberattacks, involuntary migration, and infectious diseases, in the latest global risks report from the World Economic Forum in Davos.
The Global Risks Report 2018 ranks the top 10 risks worldwide by likelihood and impact. Water crises come fifth for impact, behind weapons of mass destruction, extreme weather events, natural disasters, and failure of climate change mitigation and adaptation.
The report defines a water crises as “a significant decline in the available quality and quantity of fresh water, resulting in harmful effects on human health and/or economic activity”.
Water crises are not listed among the top 10 global risks for likelihood in 2018, although the category scores above average for this measure.
Water crises first appeared in the top 10 global risks list for likelihood and impact in 2012, when it was categorised as an environmental risk. It has since been recategorised as a societal risk, and has dropped out of the top 10 for likeliness to happen, but has ranked among the top 10 for impact for each of the past six years.