Page 61 - INTERNATIONAL SOS PR REPORT JANUARY 2024

1/10/24, 4:51 PM International SOS data reveals travel soars amid evolving risk landscape | ESG Mena
developments. More and more organisations are finding comprehensive risk mitigation strategies for their mobile workforce
to be of upmost importance.”

Adding: “Today, more than ever, travellers need to remain informed of prevailing risks and attendant mitigation measures.
Beyond geopolitical issues and natural disasters, emerging diseases, social unrest and evolving crime dynamics require that

travellers practice vigilance. Across a series of concurrent and overlapping crises, International SOS observed a 16%
increase in the volume of security and medical alerts issued to clients throughout January to November this year compared

to same period in 2022. The considerable increase illustrates both the evolving global security environment as well as value
of timely and verified information and analysis as a key resource to ensure workforce safety.”

The impact of climate change, including extreme weather events, natural disasters and environmental changes, also poses
an additional layer of risk to global travel, which it said is proving to be increasingly disruptive.

It highlighted the warning of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which has said that within the next two
decades, temperatures are likely to rise by 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, and we are likely to see a “multitude of
unavoidable climate hazards globally.”

Natural disaster-related reporting accounted for 20 per cent of International SOS’ medical and security alert volume in July

and August of 2023, a 5 per cent increase compared to 2022.

These months fall within the peak of hurricane and tropical cyclone season, highlighting the increased risk of natural
disasters.

Michael Rogers said: “With climate change exacerbating existing travel risks, it is important for organisations to have robust
and integrated health and security travel policies that safeguard employees from potential impacts of climate change during

travels. Additionally, encompassing the ISO 31030 standard in organisations’ policies provides a framework to ensure
preparedness for a changing travel security landscape and to be better placed to mitigate increasingly complex travel risks.”

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