At a Glance

Each year, nearly 1000 scientists and decision-makers from around the world take a surveyto identify and analyze the most pressing risks facing the planet.The survey looked at five environmental riskcategories this year.

Extreme weather events are the most likelythreat to humanity in the next 10 years, experts say.

Each year, nearly1,000 scientists and decision-makers from around the world take a surveyto identify and analyze the most pressing risks facing the planet.

This year and for the second year in a row, the results of the ,released Wednesday at the World Economic Forms,revealed extreme weather as the most likely threat to the world over a 10-year period, topping weapons of mass destruction. These were followed by cyber attacks, data fraud or theft and failure of climate change mitigation and adaptation.

“Extreme weather events were ranked again as a top global risk by likelihood and impact. Environmental risks, together with a growing vulnerability to other risks, are now seriously threatening the foundation of most of our commons,"Alison Martin, group chief risk officer for the Zurich Insurance Group, said in

The survey looked at five environmental riskcategories this year:extreme weather events and temperatures; accelerating biodiversity loss; pollution of air, soil and water; failures of climate change mitigation and adaptation; and risks linked to the transition to low carbon. All ranked high in terms of impact and likelihood.

(World Economic Forum)

"This follows a year characterized by high-impact hurricanes, extreme temperatures and the first rise in CO2 emissions for four years," the authors wrotein the report. "We have been pushing our planet to the brink and the damage is becoming increasingly clear."

The report noted that the 2017 hurricane season, which included hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, was the most expensive hurricane season on record.

The authors noted that extremerainfall "can be particularly damaging."

"Of the 10 natural disasters that caused the most deaths in the first half of 2017, eight involved floods or landslides," the authors added. "Storms and other weather-related hazards are also a leading cause of displacement, with the latest data showing that 76 percent of the 31.1 million people displaced during 2016 were forced from their homes as a result of weather-related events."

The report said extreme heat in California, Chile and Portugal resulted in some of the most extensive wildfires ever recorded in those areas. More than 100 deaths were attributed to wildfires in Portugal, according to the report.

Extreme weather will also affect agriculture around the world, which may lead to a food crisis, the report said,adding that the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations says more than 75 percent of the world’s food comes from just 12 plants and five animal species.

"It is estimated that there is now a one-in-twenty chance per decade that heat, drought, and flood events will cause a simultaneous failure of maize production in the world’s two main growers, China and the United States," the authors wrote. In addition, fears of “ecological Armageddon” are "being raised by a collapse in populations of insects that are critical to food systems."

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In terms of the potential in having the greatest impact on humanity over the next 10 years, weapons of mass destruction ranked just above extreme weather, followed by natural disasters, failure of climate change mitigation and adaptation and water crisis.The authors noted that the use ofweapons of mass destructionwould have catastrophic effects but is a relatively unlikely scenario.

Martinthat she fearsthe world "may squander the opportunity to move towards a more sustainable, equitable and inclusive future."

"Unfortunately we currently observe a 'too-little-too-late' response by governments and organizations to key trends such as climate change," she added. "It’s not yet too late to shape a more resilient tomorrow, but we need to act with a stronger sense of urgency in order to avoid potential system collapse."