The World Economic Forum 's new 2017 survey found that the most likely risks facing humanity are climate change , extreme weather and other environmental disasters , rather than the rise of machines . Extreme weather , particularly rogue waves , was also ranked second - most impactful risk after the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction . The impacts of climate change are becoming increasingly clear : last year was the hottest on record ; Arctic sea ice is declining rapidly ; and rising sea levels are threatening coastal cities . The knock - on effects range from a rising risk of drought and conflict , to changes to animal migration and wide scale human suffering .
The World Economic Forum's new 2017 survey reveals that the most likely risks facing humanity are climate change, extreme weather and other environmental factors, rather than the rise of machines. Extreme weather, particularly heat waves, was also ranked second-most impactful risk after the use of weapons of mass destruction. The impacts of climate change are becoming increasingly clear: last year was the hottest on record; Arctic sea ice is declining rapidly; and rising sea levels are threatening coastal cities. The knock-on effects range from a rising risk of drought and conflict, to changes to animal migration and wide scale human suffering.