Research reveals business leaders top emerging risks concerns

A new survey of emerging risks has found that Fortune 1000 executives fear a lack of access to fresh water more than the economic impact of climate change or a pandemic disease outbreak.

Marsh recently surveyed over one hundred board level executives of Fortune 1000 companies to gauge their perceptions on the greatest business risks.

Highlights of the findings include:

• A lack of access to fresh water would have catastrophic affects on nearly 50% of the businesses surveyed. However, few businesses have taken steps to prepare for a water shortage.

• An astounding half of executives surveyed do not believe that global climate change resulting in long-term environmental and economic impacts is likely to occur.

• Less than one-third of the respondents see a pandemic disease outbreak with a high worldwide mortality rate as having a severe impact on their business.

The Marsh Centre for Risk Insights’ advisory council will discuss the findings during a Webinar on September 6, 2007.

Marsh has also launched new centre for risk insights to help businesses understand emerging risks—the Centre for Risk Insights.