An individual focus is needed to assess interconnected threats and build resilience worldwide, urge Jan Willem Erisman and colleagues.

Globalization is changing the nature of risk. Natural and social systems — from climate to energy, food, water and economies — are tightly coupled. Abrupt changes in one have a domino effect on others. Floods in Thailand in 2010, for example, led to a global shortage of computer hard disks as a result of factories closing, as well as more than US$330 million in damage and around 250 deaths.

The exposure of people and assets to risks is increasing worldwide. From 1980 to 2012, annual economic losses from environmental disasters rose more than sevenfold, from about $20 billion to $150 billion a year.

Yet most risk assessments ignore networked threats. The annual Global Risks report of the World Economic Forum considers risks qualitatively, based on the views of experts. But global outlooks remain sectorial and too coarse to guide individuals, organizations, municipalities or nations.

Risk reports also neglect the collective impacts of personal choices. For example, eating more beef causes deforestation and biodiversity loss in the Amazon. Local dams for hydropower or water storage alter sediment flows to fertile coastal regions. The movement of people from the countryside to cities affects water, food, climatic and energy systems planet-wide.

Understanding networked risks is essential for achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which are being defined this year. The 17 proposed goals are interdependent. For example, the stimulation of renewable energies and biofuels to address climate change also affects food production and water resources.

For the complete article, please see Nature.