UN Summit of the Future - inside UN HQ side event: RISKS ON THE HORIZON

Date and time: 21 September 2024 20h30 – 21h45 CEST

Location: UN headquarters room CR21, New York

Organiser: Joint Research Centre, European Commission

Background

The United Nations will publish its first Global Risk Report in Autumn 2024. This follows the UNDRR UN Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction in 2023. The Joint Research Centre of the European Commission published in June 2024 its report “Risks on the Horizon”. In addition, the  World Economic Forum published its Global Risk Report in January 2024.

During this event, speakers will highlight how existing foresight methods can help to identify future risks, many of which are inter-generational, by using methods which do not rely on a risk already being known.

Panellists

• Ayaka Suzuki, Director, Strategic Planning and Monitoring Unit, Executive Office of the Secretary-General, United Nations (UN)
  • Focus on UN Global Risk Report
• Lori Moore Merrell, U.S Fire Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
• Thomas Hemmelgarn, Head of Unit, EU Policy Lab, Joint Research Centre, European Commission (EC)
  • Focus on Risks on the Horizon report
•  Bryonie Guthrie, Foresight and Organizational Transformation, Strategic Intelligence, World Economic Forum (WEF)
  • Focus on WEF Global Risk Report
• Timo Harakka, Member of Parliament, Vice Chairperson of the Committee for the Future, Finland
  • Focus on stress-testing policies and inter-generational issues on decision making

Moderators:

Tommi Asikainen, Joint Research Centre, European Commission

Anne-Katrin Bock, Joint Research Centre, European Commission

Format

Hybrid format with some invitees at the UN head quarters at New York and online participation.

Watch online  

Panel discussion on how foresight can complement classical risk assessment methods. Findings covered can be polycrisis, interactions between risks and how opportunities can rise from risk assessments. It will also cover how insights from different risk studies can depend on geographical (global / regional) focus and how interaction between the work of individual states and international organisations respectively can strengthen risk analysis. Because many risks have either materialised or will likely materialise and exist for a long time, the session will also focus on inter-generational issues, how they affects youth and future generations and which opportunities they can bring.

Participate and send your questions

There will be occasion during the event to ask questions in-person. For online participants this is not possible but you can

 submit your questions here.