Top risks addressed by Multi-stakeholder engagement, 2026–2036 FIGURE 36 "Which approach(es) do you expect to have the most potential for driving action on risk reduction and preparedness over the next 10 years?" Multi-stakeholder engagement (e.g. platforms for exchanging knowledge, best practices, alignment) Share of respondents (%) Source World Economic Forum Global Risks Perception Survey 2025-2026Risk categories Economic Environmental Geopolitical Societal Technologicalbased choices will continue to emerge in the race between economic, political, climate and societal considerations. Actions for today Representative multi-stakeholder dialogue was identified as critical by GRPS respondents to reducing the risk of Societal polarization in the long term (Figure 36). The combined resources of funding, technology, knowledge and data provided by multiple partners can amplify the impact of initiatives. Furthermore, involving a broad range of stakeholders enhances legitimacy, trust and accountability, which can encourage wider participation and support, ultimately increasing the scalability and sustainability of efforts over time. One of the keys to rebuilding trust in institutions and reducing societal polarization is to tackle misinformation and disinformation. As technology continues to advance in sophistication, upskilling efforts in areas such as digital literacy should be accelerated. This is reflected in the GRPS findings. When asked “which approaches do you expect to have the most potential for driving action on risk reduction and preparedness over the next 10 years?”, the top approach identified by respondents for Societal polarization was Public awareness and education (29% of respondents). Digital literacy initiatives should empower individuals to understand how algorithms and data influence their online experiences, while fostering critical thinking skills to recognize and address biased or harmful content. Governments, civil society and private- sector organizations all play a role in advancing these efforts, ensuring that such campaigns are accessible to diverse communities. Policy-making should also consider supporting the identification of authentic content to improve digital trust. Standards and technical solutions to ensure content authenticity – such as digital watermarking, content origin and history, and blockchain- based rights management – are currently under development to support a trustworthy information ecosystem. However, successful adoption at scale requires policy frameworks that are aligned with shared principles, rules and technological standards. Global Risks Report 2026 39