Understanding the perception and hierarchy of risks: an environmental medico-scientific perspective with COVID-19 in mind

The purpose of this article is to examine risk perception among some specific stakeholders, including international intergovernmental bodies, private western-based corporates, and among European public opinion surveys. We also address concerns of the Russian Federation and the impact of China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Perception of risks is key to policy decision-making and probably more important than risk assessment. We offer a medico-scientific perspective based on factual evidence drawn mostly from official websites and publications. Our first goal is to understand if sufficient attention is given to human health, disease prevention and control relative to economic and financial considerations. Our second goal is to promote a translational and interprofessional approach to global risk prioritization by cooperation between the medico-scientific community and the financial-economic world. To this end, we examine the benefits for the practice of economic risk assessment of engaging biomedical expertise focused on global environmental health. Maintenance, expansion and sustainability of the human enterprise require health and wellness.