Open AccessClimate Action Failure Highlighted as Leading Global Risk by Both Scientists and Business Leaders
Author(s) -
Wynes Seth,
Garard Jennifer,
Fajardo Paola,
Aoyagi Midori,
Burkins Melody,
Chaudhari Kalpana,
Forrester Terrence,
Garschagen Matthias,
Hudson Paul,
Ivanova Maria,
Maibach Edward,
Stevance AnneSophie,
Wood Sylvia,
Matthews Damon
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
earth's future
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.641
H-Index - 39
ISSN - 2328-4277
DOI - 10.1029/2022ef002857
Subject(s) - salience (neuroscience) , action (physics) , pandemic , climate change , political science , covid-19 , scientific consensus , scientific evidence , global warming , business , infectious disease (medical specialty) , psychology , disease , biology , ecology , medicine , epistemology , physics , quantum mechanics , pathology , cognitive psychology , philosophy
Abstract Despite the increased salience of infectious disease risk due to the COVID‐19 pandemic, two recent surveys of the business and scientific communities have found a continued belief in the prominence of environmental risks. In particular, failure to take action on climate change was seen as a highly likely risk whose impacts would become locked‐in barring an immediate global response. These expert opinions are consistent with a growing body of evidence and give us insight into the priorities of global thought leaders who study and respond to risk. Given this alignment in priorities, we argue for the importance of integrating climate and environmental action into responses to emerging threats.