The World Economic Forum’s 20th edition of its Global Risks Report, released today, provides a sobering look at the future of our planet. With escalating geopolitical, societal, technological, and environmental crises converging, the report reveals a global landscape that is increasingly divided and fragile. While economic risks have taken a backseat this year, they remain closely intertwined with other challenges, especially those related to the environment.

Environmental Risks: Dominating the Long-Term Outlook

Environmental concerns have taken centre stage in this year’s report, with extreme weather events, biodiversity loss, and ecosystem collapse topping the list of risks expected to pose the greatest threats in the coming decade. The World Economic Forum’s experts surveyed noted that these environmental challenges are expected to not only increase in frequency but also in intensity.

“From conflicts to climate change, we are facing interconnected crises that demand coordinated, collective action,” said Mark Elsner, Head of the Global Risks Initiative at the World Economic Forum. This interconnectedness underscores the urgency of addressing environmental risks not just as isolated threats, but as part of a broader system of global instability.

Extreme weather events, already a top concern for both short-term and long-term risks, are becoming more prevalent, with devastating impacts on communities, economies, and ecosystems around the world. As climate patterns shift and the intensity of storms, floods, and droughts escalates, the pressure on vulnerable populations will intensify.

Beyond extreme weather, the report also highlights the increasingly dire consequences of biodiversity loss, the collapse of ecosystems, and the depletion of natural resources. These environmental degradations are not only harmful to wildlife but threaten to disrupt entire food and water systems, destabilizing nations and exacerbating existing societal tensions.

Pollution, another environmental risk, is perceived as a significant challenge, with its presence in both the short-term and long-term risk categories signaling a growing recognition of its damaging effects on human health and the planet’s ecosystems. Air, water, and land pollution, stemming from industrial processes and unchecked waste, continue to pose long-lasting threats to environmental and public health.

A Fractured Global Landscape

The report also paints a stark picture of geopolitical and societal divisions, signaling a period of intense global instability. Over half of the respondents predict instability within the next two years, fueled by rising geopolitical tensions, societal polarization, and erosion of trust in governing institutions. This instability is further exacerbated by the growing challenges posed by environmental risks.

Mirek Dušek, Managing Director at the World Economic Forum, stressed the impact of these divisions: “Rising geopolitical tensions and a fracturing of trust are driving the global risk landscape.” He added that this breakdown in global cooperation presents an urgent need for collaboration and resilience to prevent further vulnerabilities from compounding.

Environmental risks, intertwined with geopolitical and technological challenges, could trigger a cascade of negative effects, particularly as nations grapple with resource shortages and the growing costs of climate-related disasters. This “fractured” global order, marked by competition among powers, risks undermining efforts to tackle these pressing environmental threats.

The Need for Global Cooperation

The 2025 report presents an alarming vision for the future, with nearly two-thirds of experts predicting a turbulent global landscape by 2035. Many worry that the mechanisms for international collaboration will come under increasing strain as nations struggle to address escalating environmental and societal risks.

However, amid these challenges, the report offers a message of hope: the need for coordinated action. “The consequences of inaction could be felt for generations to come,” warns Elsner. In this context, leaders have an urgent responsibility to prioritize global cooperation. Effective dialogue, trust-building, and the strengthening of international relationships are crucial for fostering resilience in the face of mounting environmental threats.

While the current geopolitical landscape might be fractured, the report makes it clear that turning inward and focusing solely on national interests is not a viable solution. The complexity and interconnectedness of global risks require renewed efforts to collaborate and address the environmental challenges head-on. Only through global cooperation can the world hope to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change, protect vital ecosystems, and ensure a sustainable and inclusive future for all.

A Decisive Decade

As we move deeper into the 2020s, the stakes are higher than ever. The coming decade will be a critical period for decision-making. Will leaders rise to the challenge of navigating a fractured global order, or will the world be consumed by escalating risks? The answer lies in the collective ability to foster cooperation, prioritize environmental sustainability, and rebuild trust among nations.

The Global Risks Report serves as a powerful reminder that environmental risks are not isolated challenges; they are deeply interconnected with societal, geopolitical, and economic instability. How the world responds to these pressing issues in the coming years will determine the stability and resilience of future generations.

When Andrés Ruzo, a native of Lima, Peru, was very young, his grandfather told him a captivating story—the story of the Spanish conquest of Peru. Atahualpa, the last ruler of the Inca Empire, was captured and executed by Francisco Pizarro and his Spanish soldiers. They became wealthy by plundering the gold and treasures of the Inca Empire. The tale became widely known in Spain, leading many Spaniards to venture to Peru, eager to claim gold and power. They asked the Incas where they could find more gold, and the Incas pointed toward the Amazon jungle, saying, “Go there, there’s as much gold as you need. There is even a city built of gold called Paititi.”

Spurred by these rumors, the Spaniards entered the Amazon in search of treasure. However, only a few of them returned from the jungle, and they came back with more than just tales of gold. They spoke of a tribe of mighty shamans, warriors armed with poisoned arrows, towering trees that blocked out the sun, eight-legged creatures that ate birds, snakes that devoured humans, and, most notably, a boiling river.

Andrés Ruzo grew up hearing these stories, and the image of the boiling river was etched in his mind. During his PhD studies, focused on geothermal energy potential in Peru, the thought of this river resurfaced. He wondered: Could such a river really exist? He posed the question to his colleagues, the government, and even to oil and gas companies. The unanimous answer was no. While warm rivers exist near volcanoes, there were no volcanoes in the Amazon—especially not in Peru. It seemed unlikely that a boiling river could exist there.

Ruzo once shared this viewpoint with his family during a dinner, but his aunt quickly interrupted. “No, Andrés,” she said, “there is such a river, I have been there.” Her husband agreed, confirming the story. That was when Ruzo’s relationship with the Boiling River truly began. From that moment, he set out to prove that the boiling river in the Amazon was not just a myth.

Ruzo ventured into the Amazon to find the river his grandfather and aunt had spoken of. This river is located in the heart of the Amazon rainforest in central Peru. As Ruzo described in an interview, as he approached the river, he heard what sounded like waves crashing on the shore. Soon, he began to see steam rising through the trees. The river, which he had first learned about through his grandfather’s stories, filled the air with steam. Upon testing the water temperature, Ruzo found it to be 86°C. The river’s temperature ranges from a minimum of 27°C to a maximum of 94°C. Many hot springs feed into the river, adding to the extreme heat. The river stretches for about 9 kilometers, with 6.24 kilometers of it flowing with boiling water. In the summer, the river is hot enough to kill anyone who falls into it. Small creatures, including frogs and snakes, are often found drowned in its waters.

The only people who live near this river are indigenous tribal communities, particularly the Shaman tribe, who consider the Boiling River sacred. To them, the river is a divine presence, an essential part of their daily life. They believe that Yakumama, the water goddess, transforms cold water into hot. In their language, yaku means water. The tribe uses the water from the river to drink, cook, make medicine, and even inhale the steam rising from its surface.

Locally, the river is known as Shanai Timpishka, which translates to “boiling by the heat of the sun.” But what is the scientific explanation behind the boiling waters of this river?

In 2011, Ruzo began his research on Shanai Timpishka, as little was known about the river outside of the local community. Even the people of Peru regarded the river as a legend rather than a natural phenomenon.

When Ruzo first encountered the river, he too was skeptical about its origin. Typically, rivers with such high temperatures are found near volcanic activity, but the nearest volcano to this river is over 700 kilometers away. So what could be causing the water to boil?

Another possibility was geothermal heat. But to explain the river’s boiling waters through geothermal energy, a massive heat source and a vast system of plumbing would be required to carry hot water to the surface.

With the support of the indigenous tribes living nearby, Ruzo set out to investigate what was truly happening at Shanai Timpishka. Each year, he returned to the Amazon to collect samples and measure the river’s temperature. As he recalls in his TED Talk, his fieldwork was filled with danger and adventure. On one occasion, after a heavy rain, he stood for hours on a small rock in the river, which was flowing at 80°C.

Over the course of several years, Ruzo conducted geophysical and geochemical experiments, ultimately reaching several conclusions.

The Boiling River is No Myth

Ruzo’s first major revelation to the world was that the Boiling River in the Amazon was not a mere myth. Despite not being near any volcanic activity, he began to explain the reasons behind the extreme temperatures in the river. The culprit, he concluded, was fault-fed hot springs. Just as blood flows through our veins, hot water travels through fissures in the Earth’s crust. When this hot water reaches the surface, geothermal phenomena like fumaroles (vents releasing gases and steam), hot springs, and boiling rivers like Shanai Timpishka occur.

Ruzo explains that a large hydrothermal system lies beneath the river. As water travels deep into the Earth, it gradually heats up. This is known as the geothermal gradient. The water, originating far below the Earth’s surface, flows through cracks or vents, eventually emerging as boiling water on the surface. The indigenous tribes in the area believe that the cold water from the river is transformed into hot water by the Earth’s heat—a phenomenon they regard as divine.

The river itself stretches across about 6.24 kilometers of boiling waters. It’s filled with large thermal pools, six-meter-high waterfalls, and other unique features. At certain points, the water reaches temperatures hot enough to rival your cup of coffee, and in some sections, the heat is even more intense.

What is Geothermal Heat?

The Earth’s interior consists of three layers: the crust, the mantle, and the core. The core is in a liquid state, and its temperature can reach up to 6,500°C. As water travels deeper into the Earth, it heats up, and as it nears the surface, this geothermal heat manifests itself in the form of fumaroles, hot springs, and rivers like Shanai Timpishka.

The process by which heat energy is released from the Earth’s core is known as geothermal energy. Geothermal energy is a renewable source of energy that is used worldwide for various purposes, including electricity generation.

Why the Boiling River Needs Protection

Although rivers near volcanoes may have hot water, a river with such high temperatures—away from volcanic influence—is exceptionally rare. However, the area around the Boiling River is facing significant threats. Large-scale deforestation is taking place in the region, and the river is also at risk due to industrial development.

While the heat source behind the Boiling River is an extraordinary geothermal phenomenon, more research and studies are still needed to fully understand it. Andrés Ruzo, in collaboration with local tribes, has initiated major efforts to protect the river. The Boiling River Project, based in the United States, is a non-profit initiative aimed at preserving this unique natural wonder. One of the key goals of the project is to declare the area around the river a Peruvian National Monument, ensuring its protection for future generations.

What does the reality of our oceans look like today? Plastic pollution. Do we go to the beach without ever noticing a plastic bottle or plastic waste amidst the beauty of the waves and the vast sea? Or have we lost sight of nature’s true state, consumed by the exploitation we have allowed? It’s time we took a moment to reflect.

Today, one of the biggest challenges facing our oceans is plastic pollution. Since 2018, the world has produced 359 million metric tons of plastic. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), approximately 400 million tons of plastic waste are generated annually, with around 36% used for packaging—much of which ends up in landfills. In India alone, around 3.3 million metric tons of plastic waste is generated each year. And a large portion of this, approximately 8 million metric tons, ends up in the oceans annually.

Currently, our oceans are home to about 5.25 trillion plastic items, weighing a staggering 268,940 tons. By 2050, it is projected that there will be more plastic in the oceans than fish, according to a 2016 report presented at the World Economic Forum.

Disaster in the Deep Blue

Why is plastic waste so widespread in our oceans? As we walk along the beach, enjoying the beauty of the waves and the endless blue horizon, have we ever stopped to think about the plastic we might be overlooking? Beneath the surface, our oceans now hold vast quantities of plastic waste that are invisible to the naked eye, often carried by rivers or discarded carelessly by humans.

The plastic waste that litters the oceans consists of both macroplastics (larger objects such as bags and bottles) and microplastics (tiny particles that result from the breakdown of larger plastics). These microplastics, often less than 5 millimeters in size, are created as a result of exposure to sunlight, wave action, and other environmental factors. Even though these particles become so small, they do not disappear completely from the marine ecosystem.

Plastic waste, whether it’s a discarded plastic bottle, fishing gear, or other synthetic materials, poses a major threat to marine life. Marine creatures consume plastic debris, mistaking it for food, and suffer from serious health consequences. The damage is not limited to marine organisms; human beings are also at risk, as the toxic chemicals in plastics enter the food chain.

The Ecological and Economic Impact

The consequences of plastic pollution are far-reaching. For marine ecosystems, plastics lead to habitat destruction, toxic contamination, and loss of biodiversity. For humans, plastic waste affects fisheries, tourism, and coastal economies. Plastic waste also disrupts the functioning of marine ecosystems, which are essential for regulating the climate and providing food and oxygen for life on Earth.

Plastic debris floating on the water’s surface or sinking to the ocean floor threatens marine navigation and ship safety as well. The potential for harm is vast, and addressing the problem is crucial to preserving the future of our oceans.

Why Are We Still Struggling to Tackle Ocean Pollution?

Even as millions of tons of plastic waste flow into the oceans every year, why is there still no effective response to this environmental crisis? One reason is the lack of comprehensive research and detailed studies on the extent of microplastic pollution and its long-term impact on marine ecosystems. To understand the scale of the problem, we need to know how much waste is accumulating in the oceans and where the most significant concentrations are.

While commercial vessels and research ships have gathered some data, using plankton nets to collect ocean samples, this method only covers a small fraction of the vast oceans. The challenge is that the sheer size of the oceans makes it nearly impossible to assess the full scale of plastic pollution using current techniques. Moreover, long-term data on how plastic waste is changing over time is still limited.

The Impact of Plastic on Marine Life and Human Health

The effects of plastic pollution on marine life are devastating. Fish, birds, and other marine creatures often mistake plastic debris for food, leading to ingestion, which can be fatal. Some animals become entangled in fishing nets or plastic packaging, restricting their movement and leading to death. Even more concerning is the potential for toxic chemicals from plastics to enter the food chain, eventually reaching humans.

Moreover, plastic waste that floats on the surface or sinks to the bottom of the ocean poses a threat to navigation and shipping, making it difficult for vessels to safely navigate through affected areas. As plastics degrade over time, they release harmful chemicals into the water, further exacerbating the environmental damage.

Using Satellites to Track Plastic Waste

Understanding the extent and movement of plastic waste in the oceans is key to mitigating its impacts. Researchers at the University of Michigan once proposed an innovative solution by leveraging satellite data to monitor plastic pollution. NASA’s Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS), launched in 2016, has been used to track microplastics in the ocean, helping scientists better understand their location and movement. The research conducted by the University of Michigan on using NASA’s satellite data to monitor and track plastic waste in the oceans was published in 2020.

This method utilizes radar to measure surface roughness, which can indicate the presence of plastic debris. Since microplastics tend to float on the ocean surface and are influenced by wind patterns, this system can help identify areas with high concentrations of plastics, allowing for more effective cleanup efforts.

Satellites that record wind speed can also detect changes in the distribution of microplastics. Through satellite imagery, researchers have observed that plastic pollution in the northern hemisphere’s oceans peaks during the summer months, while in the southern hemisphere, it rises during January and February. This data offers critical insights into seasonal changes in plastic distribution and can guide future cleanup operations.

Researchers have also used satellite data to monitor pollution flowing from rivers, such as those in China’s Yangtze River, and how it affects nearby ocean regions. This type of research can be crucial in understanding how industrial growth and population density contribute to increasing plastic waste.

Satellite Data for Cleanup Efforts

One of the key benefits of satellite-based research is its potential to aid ocean cleanup organizations. By identifying areas with high concentrations of plastic, cleanup operations can be more focused and efficient. These organizations can deploy specialized vessels equipped to collect and recycle plastic debris, significantly reducing waste in targeted regions.

However, the relationship between ocean surface roughness and microplastic concentrations is still under study. While the researchers have observed a pattern, they caution that the link may not always be direct. Other factors, such as surfactants in the water, could also be influencing surface conditions, so more research is needed.

The use of satellite-based systems like CYGNSS is still a developing area of study, and researchers are continuing to improve the accuracy of detecting microplastics and understanding the seasonal variations of their distribution

As of now, the research has shown promising results, but the methodology is still under refinement. The findings have been used to create maps identifying regions with high levels of microplastics. These maps are helping organizations and cleanup efforts focus their resources more efficiently.The use of satellite-based systems like CYGNSS is still a developing area of study, and researchers are continuing to improve the accuracy of detecting microplastics and understanding the seasonal variations of their distribution. Researchers are also working on refining cleanup technologies based on this satellite data to increase their effectiveness in addressing plastic pollution.

Time to Address Ocean Pollution

Plastic pollution is a growing threat, and the time to act is now. Governments, industries, and individuals all have a role to play in reducing plastic waste and preventing further harm to our oceans. Stronger regulations on plastic production and disposal, increased public awareness, and innovation in biodegradable materials are all part of the solution.

As we continue to confront this crisis, it is essential that we understand the full extent of plastic pollution in our oceans, track its impact on marine ecosystems, and work toward sustainable solutions that protect the environment for future generations. The health of our oceans is directly tied to the health of our planet—and it is up to all of us to make a difference.

It’s easy to overlook the plastic waste scattered on our beaches or floating in the ocean. But the reality is clear: plastic pollution is suffocating our oceans and destroying marine life. As we continue to pollute, we risk not only the health of our oceans but also the survival of countless species, including our own. It is time to take action before the waves of plastic drown the beauty of the seas we cherish.