International SOS releases Risk Map 2024

Security and health risk services company International SOS has released its annual interactive Risk Map.

The map has been designed to help organisations and their mobile workers better understand 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 that also outlines climate change risks. Compiled by INFORM – a collaboration between the Euro-Mediterranean Centre on Climate Change and the Joint Research Centre of the 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.

Climate change increase health risks

International SOS said it is seeing a growing 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 per cent more medical alerts issued by International SOS relating to climate change factors in 2023 than in 2022. This statistic highlights just how significant the issue is to businesses and their leaders.

Dr Irene Lai, Global Medical Director at International SOS, said: “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 seen in Bolivia and Côte d’Ivoire, largely thanks to the gradual improvement in access to quality medical care, particularly in the major cities.

Geopolitical risks dominate global security concerns

The Risk Map also provides an understanding of the wider security situation in countries that employees may be travelling through or working in. It is intended to better inform organisations so that they are able to create tailored solutions to mitigate the specific risks their workforces may encounter.

Sally Llewellyn, Global Security Director at International SOS, added: “For the coming year, geopolitical tensions, unrest and political instability are expected to impact business operations.

“This is reflected in the map with the Sahel, parts of the Middle East, and Ukraine in the ‘high’ or ‘extreme’ security risk category. International SOS continues to support organisations operating in these locations, including through providing verified information and advice on how such risks will affect their workforce or by supporting evacuations where needed.”

Due to new and evolving conflicts, some of the most notable risk rating increases this year have been in parts of Lebanon, the Palestinian Territories, Russia and across the Sahel. Ecuador and parts of Colombia have also increased their risk ratings following a consistent rise in criminality and unrest.

In some regions, the risk rating has decreased. Most notably, those for El Salvador and parts of Nepal have reduced following sustained downward trends across a number of risk factors.