Escalating armed conflict is most urgent threat for world in 2025, say global leaders

‘State-based armed conflict’ was the concern cited most by those surveyed by the World Economic Forum. Photograph: Jack Guez/AFP/Getty Images

Global leaders have said that escalating armed conflict is the most urgent threat in 2025 but the climate emergency is expected to cause the greatest concern over the next decade, according to the World Economic Forum.

Ahead of its yearly gathering in the Swiss ski resort of Davos next week, the WEF asked more than 900 leaders from business, politics and academia about the risks that most concern them.