Page 86 - INTERNATIONAL SOS PR REPORT DECEMBER 2023
P. 86
12/19/23, 11:30 AM Riyadh Daily
Riyadh "Riyadh Daily"
International SOS releases Risk Map 2024: The threat of climate change alongside growing
security and health risks in 2024
The world’s leading security and health risk services company, International SOS, is today releasing its annual interactive Risk Map
2024. The map has been designed to help organisations and their mobile workers better understand their global risks.
The Risk Map 2024 provides organisations with underlying medical and security risk ratings reflecting the impact of disruptive events,
such as the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and between Israel and Hamas. Using data-driven tools, such as this Risk Map, can help
organisations maintain their Duty of Care responsibilities as global security, medical and climate change risks continue to evolve.
For the first time, the Risk Map includes a layer which also outlines climate change risks. Compiled by INFORM (a collaboration between
the Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change and Joint Research Centre of European Commission), the data provides quantified
estimates of the impacts of climate change on the future risk of humanitarian crises and disasters. This risk index is intended to inform
policy choices across climate mitigation and adaptation, disaster risk reduction, sustainable development and humanitarian assistance
for greater resilience to the adverse impacts of climate change.
The 2024 Risk Map can be used as a tool to build a comprehensive view of the risk landscape around the world.
Climate change increases health risks
International SOS is seeing a rising trend in the number of climate-related alerts being issued to clients as rising global temperatures are
increasing health risks around the world. Greater support has been requested by businesses on this issue. There were 80% more
medical alerts issued by International SOS relating to climate change factors in 2023 compared to 2022. This statistic highlights just how
significant the issue is to businesses and their leaders.
Dr Irene Lai, Global Medical Director at International SOS comments, “Just one example, the extreme heat events this year, with the first
ever named heatwave “Cerberus” hitting Europe, may become commonplace. In addition to the physical impacts of extreme heat, there
can be significant negative effects on mental health. It is essential businesses plan for this, adapting our way of living and working to
protect health, while also taking steps to slow and eventually reverse the trend in rising temperatures.”
Changes to medical risk continue to vary across countries and regions. Two notable improvements in medical risk this year are Bolivia
and Côte d’Ivoire, largely based on the gradual improvement in access to quality medical care, particularly in the major cities.
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