The annual meeting of the World Economic Forum, held in Davos, Switzerland; and bringing together the world’s leading political and economic leaders, reinforced the perception that the world is going through a period of prolonged instability. In this scenario, geopolitical, economic and technological factors combine to heighten global risks, affecting the business environment.
“The reports and studies presented at the meeting indicate that uncertainty has ceased to be cyclical and has become part of the structural landscape of the global economy,” says José Maurício Caldeira, partner and member of the Board of Directors of Colpar Brasil, a holding company operating in several segments such agribusiness, industry and urban development.
The Global Risks Report 2026, one of the main documents discussed at the forum, indicates that most experts expect a turbulent global environment in the coming years. Geoeconomic confrontations, disinformation and political polarisation rank among the risks most likely to trigger crises in the short term.
Over a ten-year horizon, environmental issues prevail among the main threats. Extreme weather events top the list, followed by biodiversity loss with ecosystem collapse and critical changes in the planet’s environmental systems. Disinformation and potential adverse effects of AI were listed next.
This context is directly reflected in companies’ perceptions. According to a survey by the World Economic Forum, 43% of global executives stated that doing business in 2025 was more difficult than in the previous year, while only a minority perceived any improvement. Trade barriers, regulatory instability, restrictions on the movement of capital and talent, as well as the deterioration of trust between countries, were cited factors behind this outcome.
In addition to macroeconomic and geopolitical risks, Davos also highlighted growing dangers in the digital sphere. The Global Cybersecurity Outlook, released by the Forum in partnership with consultancy Accenture, shows that the rapid digitisation of economies, combined with the spread of AI and the intensification of rivalries between countries, has significantly expanded the cyberattack surface.
The study warns that many organisations and governments are still not prepared to deal with more sophisticated threats, which could compromise critical infrastructure, financial system and sensitive data, amplifying the economic impacts of potential crises. “Cybersecurity is one of the major challenges of our time, both for companies and for the public sector,” notes José Maurício Caldeira.