The International Risk Governance Council: Reflections on a 20-Year Experiment in Support of Improved Risk Governance

Area of Science:

• Risk Governance
• Systemic Risks
• Emerging Technologies

Background:

• The International Risk Governance Council (IRGC) operated from 2003 to 2023.
• It was a nonprofit foundation based in Geneva and later affiliated with École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne.
• IRGC focused on addressing emerging and systemic risks with broad societal impacts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To document the history and activities of the IRGC.
• To showcase IRGC's contributions to understanding and managing complex risks.
• To reflect on the impact of IRGC's work and the need for similar future initiatives.

Main Methods:

• Historical review of the IRGC's operations.
• Description of IRGC's reports, workshops, and conferences.
• Analysis of case histories on specific risk governance challenges.

Main Results:

• The IRGC produced numerous publications and convened diverse stakeholders.
• Case studies demonstrated IRGC's insights on solar radiation management, autonomous vehicles, and synthetic biology.
• The organization provided valuable analysis on systemic risks and resilience.

Conclusions:

• The IRGC successfully contributed to the field of risk governance over two decades.
• Its work provided critical insights into managing complex and emerging risks.
• A continuing need exists for neutral entities to convene and guide risk governance efforts.