The World Economic Forum has recently published “Global Risks 2013” – a report on how various factors affect the development of the world.
The report analyzes 50 global risks concerning their influence and interconnection, and the likelihood of them happening. The report is based on surveys of more than 1,000 experts in industry, government and academia.
The results show that the world is exposed to greater risks during economic crises, as these reduce our ability to deal with environmental issues. Income Gaps and economic deficits are factors that pose the greatest risks to the world. In third place was increased greenhouse gases.
http://www.weforum.org/reports/global-risks-2013-eighth-edition