Editor’s note: surveys, risks and rising global temperatures

The latest edition of our Sustainable Views newsletter

As I consider whether I can get away with hand luggage only for my week in Davos – where temperatures are set to keep in the negative – I’ve also been reading the main conclusions of the World Economic Forum’s 2024 risk survey.

Two-thirds of the nearly 1500 respondents, who include chief risk officers across business and finance as well as other experts, singled out “extreme weather as the top risk most likely to present a material crisis on a global scale in 2024”.

This might not surprise you. Indeed, climate change may be top of mind for you too. But what are you – and your organisations – doing to contrast its effect? As we’ve also seen this week, policies, rules and companies’ commitment to tackling global warming have not dented its rise. In fact, last year’s record temperature rises were already worryingly close to the 1.5C limit set in the Paris Agreement.

Obviously, unusual weather conditions have been a concern for Alpine resorts too, Davos included. I’ll report back on next week’s snow status as well as climate discussions from the conference. Please do let me know your thoughts on whether concerns over climate risks are actually leading to real action, and how.

As you reflect on this, you may also want to consider research from the University of Oxford warning that investors’ current climate risk assessments fail to account for a growing number of climate lawsuits.

And to wrap up the week, you may find our briefing on the latest ESG policy news useful too. Finally, below you will find our latest most popular articles, plus a suggestion from the team.

Have a good weekend,

Silvia

Silvia Pavoni is the editor of Sustainable Views

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