Launch of the First UN Global Risk Report: Portugal Co-Hosts Milestone Event for Multilateral Foresight

On 9 July, the United Nations launched its first Global Risk Report, a landmark initiative designed to identify and address systemic risks that threaten international peace, security, and sustainable development. The report provides a forward-looking analysis of global vulnerabilities, from climate change and pandemics to technological disruptions and geopolitical tensions, underscoring the need for coordinated responses.

Portugal was proud to co-host the launch alongside Singapore, highlighting the importance of multilateral foresight in anticipating and mitigating global risks. In its intervention, Portugal expressed gratitude to UN Under-Secretary-General Guy Ryder for spearheading this effort and stressed that the report is a timely call to action on global risks as the international community commemorates the 80th anniversary of the United Nations.

The key insight of this report is a set of 12 Global Vulnerabilities, which are risks that are perceived as both important and for which the international community is underprepared. Many risk reports can provide a list of the most important risks, but this report focuses our attention on perceived gaps in the multilateral space. The report’s findings emphasize the urgency of reinforcing international cooperation, investing in early warning systems, and promoting inclusive governance to build resilience against emerging threats.