Future risk: Learning from history

Overview

This report is the first in a series of seven which marks the CII's centenary year as a Chartered professional body. It sets the scene by focusing on the past and present - the building blocks for any predictions about the future. It begins by discussing some of the key trends over the last century and the important lessons that can be learned from a careful historical analysis. It then reveals some preliminary findings from a global opinion poll into current perceptions of future risks before posing the question: are public perceptions appropriate, or are many worried about the wrong things? The historical analysis and survey results prompt us to start thinking about some possible futures for further investigation - the subject of our forthcoming reports.