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UN Global Risk Report 2026: Asia faces rising security and AI threats as climate concerns slip down priority list

16 September 2026

Rising geopolitical tensions, the imminent threat of large-scale war, and accelerating artificial intelligence (AI) risks have rapidly eclipsed environmental concerns in the eyes of the public across Eastern and Southeast Asia, according to the newly released United Nations Global Risk Report 2026.

While climate change inaction remains recognised as the single most important long-term threat globally, growing anxieties over political instability and economic fragmentation are pushing critical environmental issues such as biodiversity decline and natural hazard preparedness further down the regional priority agenda.

The 2026 report was developed by the Strategic Planning and Monitoring Unit within the Executive Office of the UN Secretary-General, drawing on fundamental scientific and survey support from IPUR. Supported by financial contributions from the Government of Singapore, the study synthesised insights from more than 1,300 risk experts, government officials, business leaders, and civil society representatives across 193 UN Member States.

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Key findings:

  • Political and tech risks surging: Geopolitical tensions (#3), large-scale war (#4), and AI-related threats (#12 & #14) saw massive jumps in public concern, while worries about pandemics and biorisks dropped sharply across all regions.
  • Large-scale war is the biggest shift: War climbed 16 places in imminence – 36% expect it within 1 year, and 76% within 7 years.
  • Climate remains #1, but environmental urgency is slipping: Climate change inaction is still rated the #1 most important global risk overall. However, attention is crowding it out: biodiversity decline (-17 spots) and pollution (-10 spots) fell steeply in perceived imminence.
  • Lowest preparedness for tech and war: Multilateral institutions are seen as least prepared to handle technological risks (AI, cybersecurity, geoengineering) and large-scale war. While institutions can identify these risks, their capacity to reduce them dropped for 23 out of 28 risks.
  • Severe funding deficit: 86% of respondents view funding for risk mitigation and reduction as completely inadequate.
  • Joint action still preferred: Multi-government action remains rated as the single most effective way forward, but weak governance and lack of political consensus are the primary barriers blocking progress.