Yesterday, we asked a cross-section of our experts to name — in a couple of sentences — what had been the most significant development in their areas of expertise over the last year. Today, in the second half of our survey, we asked them to name what risk most worries them in 2023. Here’s what they had to say.

An expansion of the Ukraine war either beyond its borders or with nuclear weapons.

— Peter Schechter, Host of Altamar Global Issues Podcast and BRINK columnist

The annual value of global gas trade is poised to hit one trillion US dollars in 2023. Gas globalization could trigger climate tipping points — conditions beyond which climate change becomes self-perpetuating and leads to abrupt, irreversible, and dangerous impacts. 

— Deborah Gordon, Senior Principal at Rocky Mountain Institute

Rising geopolitical tensions and worsening China-U.S. relations.

— Sarah Y. Tong, Senior Research Fellow at the National University of Singapore

Efforts by the federal government to slow inflation by punishing workers.

— Robert Bruno, Professor of Labor and Employment Relations at University of Illinois

A more severe economic downturn than currently expected

— Alexander Privitera Fellow at UniMarconi, Rome

Climate change increasingly affects the global transport system. Droughts are becoming a main threat to river traffic (Rhine, Mississippi, Yangtze etc.) rather than floods that were historically the focus. 

— Sarah Schiffling, Senior Lecturer in Supply Chain Management of Liverpool John Moores University 

The risk that advanced countries may renege on their financial commitments to help developing countries. This risk is likely to increase if there is no early resolution to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.

— John Asafu-Adjaye, Senior Fellow at the African Center for Economic Transformation

I am most concerned about China’s ability to tackle multiple challenges (e.g., surge in COVID-19 cases, weakness in the property sector, shrinking labor force, constraints on the private sector, tech decoupling from the West) to relaunch growth.

— Bart Édes, Distinguished Fellow at Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada

Top insurance industry risks include cybersecurity, geopolitical risk, and natural catastrophes.

— Mark Friedlander, Director of Corporate Communications at Insurance Information

The harmful use of AI in the workplace. 

— Mario Mariniello, Author of “Digital Economic Policy”

A lack of coordinated actions in the political economy.

— Venkatachalam Anbumozhi, Director, Research Strategy and Innovations at Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia