The young forward has already made four games for the presumably promoted Swiss League team this past season EHC Arosa continues to build their roster for the coming season, which will most likely be in the Swiss League. The most recent addition is Gian Leipold. The forward joins from HC Davos where he was spending the last few years playing junior hockey Leipold already suited up for Arosa in the MyHockey League team manager Jan Alston intends to include youngsters Guus Van der Kaaij The "Südostschweiz" recently sat down with HC Davos' team manager Jan Alston Part of their talk was regarding the roster planning for the coming season and possible additions "Our goal is to have ten defensemen and 15 forwards" they plan to include Guus Van der Kaaij and Simon Müller Beni Waidacher (19) will take up the remaining spot All three of them made their debut in the main squad last season One import's future is not yet clear - Filip Zadina we are planning to have him next season as well" the Czech could possibly return to the NHL by July 15 of this year were reportedly accused of financial and ethical misconduct – which they deny The World Economic Forum has launched an investigation into its founder after whistleblowers reportedly accused him of manipulating research using company funds to pay for private massages and asking junior staff to withdraw thousands of dollars on his behalf The allegations – reportedly sent last week in a letter to the WEF, which organises the annual gathering of economic leaders at Davos in Switzerland – accuse Schwab and his wife The accusations prompted Schwab’s resignation as the WEF executive chair on Monday after its board of high-profile trustees – which includes the BlackRock chief Kristalina Georgieva; the former US vice-president Al Gore and cellist Yo-Yo Ma – held an emergency meeting to look into the claims on Sunday is said to have argued against the board’s plan for an investigation The founder had indicaated he intended to step down in early April but the whistleblower letter brought forward his exit It hosts the annual conference in the Swiss ski resort The whistleblower letter included a range of claims against the Schwab family, according to the Wall Street Journal and Financial Times. They include an allegation that Schwab used WEF funds to pay for private asked staff to promote him for a Nobel peace prize and instructed junior employees to withdraw thousands of dollars from ATMs on his behalf The letter also accused Schwab of manipulating the WEF global competitiveness report in order to curry favour with certain governments The publication ranks countries based on criteria such as education and is a point of reference for the annual Davos meeting Villa Mundi a grand property bought by the WEF overlooking Lake Geneva Photograph: Salvatore Di Nolfi/EPASome allegations also extended to Schwab’s wife They suggested she scheduled “token” meetings using WEF money to justify luxury travel at WEF’s expense The letter claims that Hilde also maintained tight control over the use of Villa Mundi and that portions of the building were reserved for the family’s private access The Schwabs have reportedly denied all the allegations saying they were unsubstantiated and would be challenged in a lawsuit A statement sent on behalf of the family to some media outlets on Wednesday claimed Schwab had been the victim of a “character assassination” The WEF board of trustees has appointed the former Nestlé chief executive Peter Brabeck-Letmathe as interim chair but is searching for a permanent replacement The Guardian contacted the WEF for comment and was not immediately able to reach the Schwabs for comment Schwab’s resignation marks the end of a 54-year career at the top of the WEF and follows a previous board investigation into its workplace culture It comes two years after a group of employees and former staff of the WEF contacted the Guardian over concerns about how Schwab was running the organisation They claimed that Schwab was a law unto himself and had surrounded himself with “nobodies” who were incapable of running the organisation he founded in the early 1970s It followed criticism that WEF’s strategic partners – the firms that bankroll the business – were unhappy about the lack of a succession strategy Schwab issued a statement through WEF announcing his resignation I have decided to step down from the position of chair and as a member of the board of trustees Essential digital access to quality FT journalism on any device Complete digital access to quality FT journalism with expert analysis from industry leaders Terms & Conditions apply Discover all the plans currently available in your country See why over a million readers pay to read the Financial Times Complete digital access to quality analysis and expert insights complemented with our award-winning Weekend Print edition Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker The longtime head of the World Economic Forum resigns in disgrace World Economic Forum founder Klaus Schwab speaks at the Annual Meeting of the WEF in Davos When I was a young reporter working in Washington the party you wanted to be invited to was hosted by a guy named Steve Martindale but he masterminded a familiar American con pretty soon they are the hottest ticket in town he helped a few celebrities sort out visa or tax problems They were having trouble staying in the U.S Martindale offered to throw a party to introduce them to several influential people That was hardly difficult; this was John and Yoko which of course attracted still other VIPs His salons became a place to see and be seen and he became the most in-demand Washington party-giver since Perle Mesta Martindale just happened to be in the public relations business and his PR enterprise cross-fertilized each other More from Robert Kuttner In 1974, The Washington Post’s Sally Quinn skewered Martindale in a wicked profile that exposed his modus operandi I thought of Martindale last week, when the financial press carried a story that Klaus Schwab, the entrepreneur behind the annual Davos conferences of the World Economic Forum, has been accused of multiple scams and was forced to resign The only notable difference between Martindale and Schwab was scale Martindale was merely a social climber and cross-fertilizer Schwab founded the organization in 1971 as the European Management Forum and changed its name to the tonier World Economic Forum in 1987 the WEF is funded by some 1,000 member corporations typically global enterprises each with more than $5 billion in turnover I was invited twice to Davos in the late 1990s It was right after my most influential book The World Economic Forum salts the mine with political and intellectual celebrities These people get a first-class ski vacation in an Alpine resort at Schwab’s expense But everyone else who attends is a paying guest the total cost of a week in Davos can be as high as $250,000 all of the world’s political and economic leaders showed up Then you have to justify the trip by writing lots of stories about it called “Terror at Davos.” The premise is that gunmen from an unnamed Third World country capture several masters of the universe and hold them hostage for debt relief What got Schwab into trouble was not taking markups on Davos resort hotel charges It was other alleged conflicts of interest According to allegations from a whistleblower which led to an emergency board meeting on Easter Sunday and his resignation Schwab has long mixed family business with Forum finances and charged personal expenses to the Forum The Forum is a nonprofit with a prestigious board The anonymous whistleblower letter also claimed that Schwab manipulated its “global competitiveness report,” in order to curry favor with certain national leaders he has stepped down from all roles connected with the World Economic Forum and we should hardly be shocked that capitalism runs on the blurring of roles and the profiting from conflicts of interest Schwab has not been convicted of criminal wrongdoing began convening must-attend annual events after having been convicted as a crook and doing prison time Milken turned leveraged buyouts using high-risk junk bonds into a major business He became a billionaire on concealed insider trading Milken pleaded guilty to six counts of securities and tax violations Literally next week, the Milken Institute holds its 28th Global Conference in L.A focusing on topics such as geopolitical tensions former Treasury Secretaries Steve Mnuchin and Robert Rubin private equity tycoons Henry Kravis of KKR and 142 people with the word “President” in their title Robert Kuttner is co-founder and co-editor of The American Prospect and professor at Brandeis University’s Heller School About the Prospect | Contact Info Careers |FAQ Newsletters Browse Archive / Back Issues Manage A Print Subscription Manage A Recurring Donation Privacy Policy DONATE TO THE PROSPECT Which language would you like to use this site in Ahead of the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos Amnesty International’s Secretary General Agnès Callamard said: “As many of the world’s wealthiest and most powerful people meet in Davos once again they must acknowledge the gravity of the challenges facing humanity and the urgent need to change course The themes for this year’s event raise some difficult questions that must be addressed “Are we truly entering an ‘Intelligent Age’ robotics and biotech advances claim to revolutionize our existence there is no guarantee that all of humanity will reap the benefits Enough warning bells have already been sounded about emerging technologies from experts and the communities most impacted by their unchecked use and deployment “We must be supremely careful about how we navigate these uncharted waters for there is nothing intelligent about letting tech companies run amok without robust safeguards to protect us from the worst impulses of corporate power and the adverse consequences of unprecedented technological growth “There is nothing intelligent about letting technological leaps widen existing divisions and inequalities and facilitate authoritarian practices There is nothing intelligent about allowing machines to make decisions to kill people and enabling the annihilation of international law.” heightened polarization and oceans of disinformation Without ironclad human rights protections built into the heart of the technological development process the utopia some promise could all too easily descend into dystopia As many of the world’s wealthiest and most powerful people meet in Davos once again “Talk of safeguarding the planet will ring hollow until world leaders stop letting fossil fuel companies sacrifice our future through their relentless The corporate actors retreating from previous commitments to stop growing the fossil fuel industry will cause costly destruction and untold human rights violations Protecting our planet must begin with commitments to vastly scale up climate finance and fund a rapid while helping affected communities adapt to the worst impacts of climate change and providing reparations for climate-caused losses and damages “Reimagining growth requires a genuine commitment to reforming the global financial system attendees must stop propping up the crumbling system that delivers unimaginable wealth to a tiny minority at the expense of the suffering of billions those gathered at Davos must use their considerable influence to fix them They must recognize that the human and economic costs of maintaining the status quo are as incalculable as they are unjustifiable we must reconsider paradigms of growth and prosperity and expand our thinking beyond narrow metrics such as GDP To effectively address structural and systemic inequalities we must find new and innovative ways to measure and deliver shared and sustainable advances decisive and human-rights-based action is the only way to secure a future in which both human dignity and our planet thrive.” Agnès Callamard will be attending the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting in Davos throughout its duration from 20 to 24 January She will be available for media interviews on a range of human rights issues Agnès Callamard will also be taking part in the New York Time Debate at Davos Topic: “This House believes it is time for the U.S Venue: Hotel Morosani Schweizerhof – Damoro Restaurant Agnès Callamard is an international human rights expert A leading advocate for freedom of expression Dr Callamard has been at the forefront of international efforts to combat some of the greatest human rights challenges of our time She was appointed Secretary General of Amnesty International in 2021 Together we can fight for human rights everywhere Your donation can transform the lives of millions If you are talented and passionate about human rights then Amnesty International wants to hear from you Current Access Level “I” – ID Only: CUID holders This website uses cookies as well as similar tools and technologies to understand visitors’ experiences. By continuing to use this website, you consent to Columbia University’s usage of cookies and similar technologies, in accordance with the Columbia University Website Cookie Notice. Our work is committed to independent and nonpartisan research that meets the high standards of academic integrity and quality at Columbia University Our initiatives and programs are designed to address critical needs in key focus areas around energy and climate policy Explore our expert insights and analysis in leading energy and climate news stories See All News Get the latest as our experts share their insights on global energy policy Saudi Arabia’s recent moves into the liquefied natural gas (LNG) market may be a sign the giant oil exporter is looking to expand into a rapidly growing and politically influential market it had long ignored This Energy Explained post represents the research and views of the author It does not necessarily represent the views of the Center on Global Energy Policy See All Insights Hear in-depth conversations with the world’s top energy and climate leaders from government After more than three years of intense fighting following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 the path to end the war has been challenging As President Biden’s national security advisor Jake Sullivan laid out a strategy for what he called a “foreign policy for the middle class.” Using the metaphor of a.. It’s hard to overstate how consequential President Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs have been for American economic policy While the administration has paused the steep reciprocal tariffs it announced.. See All Podcasts Find out more about our upcoming and past events The relationship between the US and Canada each of which is the other’s principal source of imported energy has become increasingly fraught in recent months See All Events We are the premier hub and policy institution for global energy thought leadership and our trusted fact-based research informs the decisions that affect all of us The Center on Global Energy Policy is committed to independent and nonpartisan research that meets the high standards of academic integrity and quality at Columbia University and evidence-based energy and climate solutions through research Meet our staff and senior energy experts from government I spent last week at the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos am writing to offer a few reflections from the many events This year’s Davos took place against the backdrop of U.S which happened hours before the conference kicked off President Trump overshadowed the meeting in many ways with many corporate leaders arriving late after attending the inauguration and the President’s virtual speech being the most attended of the week The big topics of interest this year were President Trump and geopolitics—all of which will impact energy in significant ways President Trump’s election was just one of the factors that seemed to drive a sense of business confidence among the corporate titans at Davos The same leaders who seemed to celebrate his departure from the world stage four years ago welcomed his return in various panels and speeches In conference sessions and corporate displays along the Promenade the focus was far more on economic growth and deregulation than corporate social responsibility and ESG was concern about the potential risks to the global economy of tariffs The concern about Europe’s economic outlook was particularly acute—with high energy prices being a key driver moderated by The Economist editor-in-chief Zanny Minton Beddoes There was significant interest in what the Trump administration’s energy policy would mean for American oil and gas production and exports, as well as how President Trump would approach oil sanctions on Russia, Iran and Venezuela, a topic I discussed on-air with CNBC’s Dan Murphy President Trump also declared a National Energy Emergency—an action that struck many non-U.S WEF participants as puzzling given that European and Asian natural gas prices are roughly four times that in the U.S. not to mention that African leaders continue to struggle to provide basic energy access to their citizens For all of the rhetoric around “drill baby drill,” what I found most noteworthy reading the emergency order was how much it focused on electricity and grid reliability along with security of supply for critical minerals a key sector for energy currently dominated by China It is good to see the Trump administration prioritizing modernization of America’s aging electricity grid, as David Hill and I recently recommended in Foreign Policy mischaracterized the cause of today’s problems placing primary blame on intermittent solar and wind power and paused distributions from the Inflation Reduction Act and bipartisan infrastructure law that could affect solar and wind His emergency order also excluded solar and wind from its definition of “energy,” which is not an encouraging sign for these key sources of zero-carbon electricity As I explained in a discussion with Semafor about AI and energy that the Trump administration’s concern about high energy prices and rising power demand for data centers can help deliver much-needed permitting reform to make it easier to build energy infrastructure The Trump administration may also be one of the most pro-nuclear to date which would be most welcome given not only AI’s need for firm 24/7 power but that advanced nuclear power will be necessary to achieve our climate goals nuclear energy was much higher on the agenda in Davos than in prior years Given that large hyperscalers such as Google and Microsoft have large capital budgets and also take their green commitments seriously they have an opportunity to ensure new natural gas generation projects include carbon capture and removal which could be the catalyst for investments that sharply reduce the cost of these technologies Nearly every net-zero scenario shows that carbon management technology will be needed at very large scale CGEP hosted its annual Davos roundtable in partnership with BCG’s Center for Energy Impact to discuss the geopolitical implications of not only energy for AI but as the IEA’s Executive Director Fatih Birol the importance of AI to economic and national security means the potential to access a broader geographic set of energy options will be affected by concerns about latency for example)—the electricity need not be low-carbon Those sources of power demand growth risk causing gas and coal use to continue rising unless strong policy actions continue to drive economies toward lower-carbon energy investments Critical minerals were also a subject of much discussion at Davos, including in a small discussion with several energy ministers about how to mobilize capital for clean energy investment in Africa, which is a key priority for CGEP’s Energy Opportunity Lab With the Development Finance Corporation coming up for reauthorization this year President Trump’s concerns about reducing dependence on China and bolstering America’s energy security argue for strengthening DFC I heard repeatedly in conversations about climate change that the clean energy revolution was unstoppable—a view that warrants some skepticism With an increased focus on security and competitiveness this reset in the narrative and discussions about energy and climate change at Davos can now point in one of two directions some will argue that being realistic about the importance of keeping energy prices low and expanding energy access for the world’s poor means the clean energy transition needs to move at a slower pace this reset can allow for a more pragmatic and productive conversation about the very real challenges and immense difficulty of moving to a low-carbon energy system not to abandon ambition but rather to focus on the stronger policies and technological innovations that will move the needle the most to achieve our myriad energy policy objectives of security Delivering evidence-based analysis and solutions toward that goal is what motivates our work at CGEP every day Despite all the complexity and uncertainty in Davos this year, one lesson remains clear by far the best way to get around the traffic-clogged streets continues to be an electric snow bicycle my wonderful colleague and I learned there’s actually one faster way to get around Davos—at least when going downhill Get the latest news and research on energy & climate policy Economist Noah Kaufman discusses the complexities of America's energy transition highlighting the decline of coal despite federal rhetoric He emphasizes the need to address the economic vulnerabilities of fossil fuel-dependent communities particularly oil and gas regions often overlooked in climate policies Kaufman also warns that potential tariffs and US disengagement from global climate agreements could hinder progress Be sure to sign into your Energy Central account (register for free here) to access this full post with the podcast recording presidential administrations have to do with stalled solar farms in Sub-Saharan Africa or wind projects in Southeast Asia The actions of the Trump administration will significantly decelerate the race to decarbonize economies around the world according to energy and climate change experts cleantech firm to become the first company in the world to mass-produce carbon capture filters designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions President Donald Trump’s second term has begun with sweeping changes just as the candidate promised: tariffs instituted against allies and adversaries alike The critical minerals executive order signed by President Trump on March 20 aims to significantly increase domestic production of critical minerals within the United States President Donald Trump has made energy a clear focus for his second term in the White House Having campaigned on an “America First” platform that highlighted domestic fossil-fuel growth the reversal of climate policies and clean energy incentives advanced by the Biden administration and substantial tariffs on key US trading partners he declared an “energy emergency” on his first day in office The European Union’s energy landscape is transforming rapidly and decrease dependence on Russian fuel—three goals proving to be.. Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs [email protected] by noformat "(required)" indicates required fields Donate UN Women at the World Economic Forum in Davos 2025 for the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting from 20 to 24 January UN Women will highlight that gender equality is a fundamental human right social entrepreneurs and the media to find ways to collaborate and take collective action As technology shifts are geared to reshape the world amidst geopolitical and economic tension and the climate crisis collective action is more critical than ever UN Women will highlight the power of collective action and the private sector’s role in building gender-inclusive societies in this pivotal moment Artificial intelligence (AI) could significantly accelerate progress on gender equality UN Women will work with technology sector and government leaders to advocate for designing UN Women welcomes partnerships to ensure that AI serves humanity equitably and safely The year 2025 marks an important milestone in the history of women’s rights and gender equality – the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action Adopted by 189 governments and endorsed by thousands of delegates at the Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995 in Beijing it remains the most progressive and widely endorsed blueprint for women’s and girls’ rights worldwide.  while no country has achieved gender equality yet Actions by private sector – such as respecting all women’s rights ensuring equal pay and safe and healthy workplaces and ensuring women’s leadership in innovation and technology – will change the game and build a just Under the banner of UN Women’s flagship campaign UN Women will present a call to action for business leaders at Davos urging to take the first step by signing on to the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs): a set of seven Principles offering guidance on how to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment in the workplace AI and Collective Intelligence for Inclusive Action and Impact co-organized by the Watch and Jewelry Initiative 2030 and UN Women launching a white paper and consultative process on a global comprehensive reporting framework for the Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs) and unveiling the prototype of a WEPs-powered generative AI tool Women in Tech Imperative Luncheon with #ChangeTheFace Participants will discuss women’s roles in helping shape the future of tech – more specifically shaping the future of GenAI This event will provide a compelling understanding of the current global challenges and opportunities emphasizing the urgency of advancing women's power and leadership as a gamechanger for achieving all the SDGs  Please note that events listed here are subject to change Check UN Women social media accounts for the latest updates Donate Donate 20-24 will showcase a series of events featuring leading experts in health and innovation who are advancing global brain health Rice’s vice president of innovation and chief innovation officer business and advocacy in a session focused on charting a yearlong strategy to drive a global brain health movement substance use and neurological conditions and ranges from preventing disease to promoting positive brain function enabling individuals to thrive,” said Cherukuri who leads Rice’s technology and commercialization infrastructure to translate breakthrough discoveries into inventions for societal benefit “Visitors to The Brain House will depart with a firm commitment and a clear strategy to promote brain health making it a central priority in global discussions and policy initiatives year-round Rice is dedicated to leading the conversation and advancing research in this critical field,” he said a number that experts say will increase to $2.8 trillion by 2030 The Brain House aims to spread awareness of the connection between brain power and economic security beyond the halls of academia and medicine and center it in the world of capital markets needed to create a healthier Building on the success of his work with Brain Days at the United Nations, Harris Eyre, who leads the Neuro-Policy Program at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy He’s spearheading several panel discussions on innovations in dementia prevention systemwide investment to advance brain health the role of academia and accelerating translational innovation in the field With a strategic emphasis on leading innovations in health, health care and medicine under the leadership of President Reginald DesRoches, Rice is at the forefront of the brain-positive economy transition “The state of our brains matters — now more than ever,” DesRoches said “The escalating burden of neurodegenerative and mental health disorders — including depression dementia and Alzheimer’s disease — has taken a staggering toll on both individual well-being and the overall global economy.” Rice aims to stop and reverse the loss of brain capital through pioneering efforts including the Rice Neuroengineering Initiative, Center for Neural Systems Restoration (in partnership with Houston Methodist) and Eyre’s Neuro-Policy Program Rice’s strong psychological sciences department uniquely blends the science of the human brain with the science of human behavior and performance News & World Report currently ranks Rice’s industrial-organizational psychology graduate program No Rice’s Jones Graduate School of Business has been ranked No 1 for graduate entrepreneurship programs by The Princeton Review and Entrepreneur magazine for six years in a row Rice has recently hosted strategic meetings with U.S who is co-chair of the Congressional Neuroscience Caucus and a champion for radical neuroscience innovations “Our breadth of research priorities creates a unique learning and research environment,” DesRoches said “And as our state legislative leadership prioritizes a new major research initiative targeting brain diseases that affect cognitive abilities Rice and our partners will help Texas become the world leader in the field as we have with cancer care and research.” Joining Rice as sponsors of The Brain House are the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston 713-348-0000 | Privacy Policy | Campus Carry Davos hosts the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) A highly curated group of delegates from global business and academia converge on this Swiss town to address the most pressing issues of the day—and ultimately develop solutions the annual meeting will be centered on collaboration in the intelligent age We are living in a time of great risk as well as great opportunity Increasing geopolitical polarization and divisions over values are wreaking havoc on communities around the world—at the same time innovation and the use of rapidly advancing technologies offer an unprecedented opportunity to improve productivity and standards of living Responding to such profound forces of change requires a new commitment to collaboration The delegates of Davos 2025 will explore a range of themes: for example identifying new sources of growth in the global economy transforming industries in the intelligent age building on actions to address climate change and collaborating on solutions to both international and regional problems and insights on what lies ahead in light of shifting geopolitical dynamics and the ongoing advancement of technologies Learn more about McKinsey’s collaboration with the World Economic Forum Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, WEF is an international not-for-profit organization focused on promoting cooperation between the public and private sectors Founded in 1971 by German economist Klaus Schwab WEF seeks to foster a spirit of collaborative entrepreneurship to address global issues and shape governmental WEF partners with many international organizations and corporations to run projects addressing global concerns collaborations are focused on reimagining growth transforming industries in the wake of advancing technology and rebuilding trust within and among societies Davos isn’t just about the keynote addresses. The meeting is also famous for the networking and social interactions that take place in corridors, side rooms, hotel suites, and restaurants across the Alpine town. “For me,” says McKinsey senior partner Kate Smaje “Davos is all about making those unusual connections where you get to talk to people who are doing very different things than you and being able to connect those dots and start to think about things in different ways it’s never about a session; it’s often about those coincidental meetings that happen in the margins of the sessions.” Some 2,500 delegates and hundreds of others gather in Davos during this period, making it perhaps the largest assembly of global decision makers all year. As McKinsey senior partner Enno de Boer characterized the meeting “It’s business speed dating on steroids.” For McKinsey veterans of the Davos meeting connecting with clients takes center stage at the conference the annual meeting welcomed delegates from more than 100 governments around the world from all major international organizations Leaders in attendance included Antony Blinken Approximately 1,000 corporations are members of WEF and each sends a small number of key delegates to the meeting in Davos based on their membership tier Meet McKinsey’s 2025 Davos delegation. the theme for Davos is “Collaboration for the Intelligent Age.” The program will be oriented around five interconnected priorities: The meeting in Davos will take place from January 20 to 24 the meeting was focused on rebuilding trust in an era of rapid change and increased fragmentation at three fundamental levels: in our future McKinsey’s partnership with WEF for each year’s Davos meeting includes events and interventions that align with shared goals across geographies and institutions McKinsey’s knowledge collaborations with WEF were intended to foster global cooperation for sustainable Geopolitics and their implications for business was a critical topic at Davos in 2024 where delegates were also focused on an orderly equitable transition toward the future of tech and the calculus between decarbonization and value creation WEF describes itself as a new kind of institution and stakeholder trust necessary to make it a platform with the power to make change The upheavals of the COVID-19 pandemic have underscored the organization’s ongoing value For McKinsey senior partner Tracy Francis the value of the Davos meeting is in “the human interaction of a multitude of different types of entities—start-ups There’s a lot of talk about a new world order but I do think that just being together in person and exchanging ideas increases connectivity.” And while the spotlight shines bright on the best-known delegates, it’s the smaller interactions that can mean the most. “In Davos, I always like to meet the start-up or technology company that comes up with an idea that, if it works, could scale through the planet and change something,” says McKinsey senior partner and McKinsey Global Institute chairman and director Sven Smit “You’ll find hope in these kinds of things but the small voices bring a lot of hope.” To keep up to date with McKinsey’s Davos coverage, visit McKinsey and WEF search for #davosagenda on social media and look out for live events with McKinsey experts in the time leading up to the January meeting And stay tuned for Davos updates in your inbox This article was updated in November 2024; it was originally published in January 2023 Want to know more about Davos?Talk to us "It was the best of times; it was the worst of times." Charles Dickens is more relevant today than ever The wealthy and powerful are meeting again this year in glamorous Davos They arrive in chartered aircraft and private jets to speak about our warming climate The situation is most dire in the 44 Least Developed Countries (LDCs) 'Collaboration for the Intelligent Age,' is particularly timely for wealthy countries as they reap rich dividends due to rapid technological advancements the theme holds profound significance for people living in LDCs where new and relevant technologies can permanently alter their development trajectory the Davos gathering should look at concrete and practical ways to help these countries with financing and technical expertise to reduce this alarming gap where poor people are not just left behind but are completely left out.  The summit agenda outlines five priorities and their rationale - all pertinent for LDCs if the will Reimagining growth: The World Economic Forum notes that the digital economy has the potential to account for up to 70% of the new value generated globally in the next ten years.  This potential and attendant economic benefits will reside overwhelmingly in the wealthiest countries the digital economy provides an outstanding opportunity for the poorest countries to leapfrog in their development gains creating new jobs and opportunities for their people.  Industries in the intelligent age: This thematic focus is invariably on the world's largest businesses and economies there is much that big business can do to help grow a global economy where everyone benefits Sharing best practices and investing in LDCs are prime examples of ways to promote a more equitable transition into the tech future Business has an important role to play in enhancing the presence of these countries in global supply chains They can also support small and medium enterprises by boosting their productive capacity at the domestic level and the time to change the focus is now.  this appalling inequality will not change.  Using low-cost high-impact technologies to build human capital in LDCs is fundamental There is much the wealthiest countries can do in this critical area Safeguarding the planet: Large pockets of the world's poorest are starving due to climate-induced disasters and food insecurity. Climate financing action is vital for LDCs, which contribute less than 4% of global emissions but bear some of the most severe impacts of climate change as well as new and emerging technologies that can help predict climate change and manage disasters should be transferred to those who need it most the developed world must meet its commitments on financing for climate action Rebuilding trust: There is much talk about global collaboration and multilateralism – at a time of rising global inequality and increasing isolationism Davos could do well to foster greater inclusivity and Those with great wealth and influence also have a great responsibility Unless the World Economic Forum's annual summit focuses on the more than one billion people living in the world's poorest countries it will remain an echo chamber for the privileged.  and collective resilience is not only possible but essential for us all Davos 2025 must seize the opportunity to redefine itself as a true forum for global progress Deodat Maharaj is the Managing Director of the United Nations Technology Bank for the Least Developed Countries and can be reached at: deodat.maharaj@un.org clockwise from top left: the town of Davos © Olaf Protze/Alamy; world map 1975 © Hum Images/Alamy; a ski jumper © akg-images/De Agostini/Biblioteca Ambrosiana; national flags at the Davos Congress Centre © Andreas Nägeli/Alamy; the World Economic Forum logo © World Economic Forum; a mountain peak © Makasana/iStockDavos; a meeting at the World Economic Forum © Ukraine Presidency/Ukrainian Presidential Press Office/Alamy along with all but three thousand members of the global population I was not invited to attend the World Economic Forum as I had hoped to cover the event for this magazine I wanted to travel to Switzerland during those five early days of the year to see whether globalization was dying or might yet recover from the blow delivered to it by a concatenation of historical events: the rearmament of the world the return to an age of state industrial strategies and the reassertion of national borders in the aftermath of a pandemic that had locked each of us As the cradle of the doctrine that had governed the world economy for the past fifty years but was now threatened by an apparently terminal “polycrisis,” the annual meeting of business and state leaders seemed to be the place to take globalization’s pulse I wondered whether it might be enough to spend the week of the conference in the small Alpine town with which the event had become synonymous: Davos the easternmost and largest in the country a region whose very heterogeneity mirrors that of the nation earning it the nickname die kleine Schweiz (“little Switzerland”) Graubündners are renowned for their independence and resilience The canton has long been at the very heart of Europe’s trade networks: its mountain passes facilitated the medieval exchange of English wool for Italian gold at the dawn of the Continent’s banking system Its economy today is driven mostly by tourism (it is astonishingly beautiful) and a mixture of biomedical research and chemical manufacturing And Davos itself is a microcosm of this microcosm: a landscape of Burkean sublimity whose rarefied air brought tuberculosis patients to its slopes for decades before the development of streptomycin began to empty out the sanatoriums which over time refashioned themselves as hotels Davosians sought never to rely so heavily on a single source of income again Davos epitomizes two vying images of Switzerland: that of the global financial hubs Zurich and Geneva upon which international business and the world’s wealthy have long relied and that of vertiginous dairy-farming landscapes from which civic-minded cowherds descend from Alpine peaks to cast their votes in referenda before returning to their butter churns The vast sums of capital that flow through the former provide the financial basis for the localism of the latter helping to preserve the image of a land unspoiled by the vampiric thirst of capitalism and the homogenizing cultural pressures of globalization this “neutral,” unchanging national character has attracted a legion of global businesses and institutions that have headquartered themselves there the country did experience an extraordinary period of political and economic stability But lately even Switzerland has shown signs of increasing disturbance: the precise meaning of neutrality is up for grabs (ought it allow the Swiss Army to participate in NATO defense exercises?); the country’s two largest banks have not so much merged as one has collapsed into the other; its decision to unpeg the franc from the euro has stymied trade; and its most recent federal election saw a nationalist far-right party grow its plurality in the National Council that the fate of the disintegrating liberal order might be divinable from the town that had long been its epicenter printed alongside a letter from Klaus and Hilde Schwab praising Davos as a “place that naturally stimulates reflection productive engagement that is essential to managing the challenges of our age,” was the headline is this the last davos wef not even attendees of the previous year’s forum could tell me whether I’d be able to visit the town during the conference without some sort of clearance most reports of Davos’s character are made during the week of the forum after a customary name-check of The Magic Mountain employ a vocabulary situated somewhere between that of a Pentagon briefing and an ad for an all-inclusive ski vacation: “fortress” appears frequently as do “sniper,” “checkpoint,” and “piano bar.” I read in the Times of India that nearly five thousand Swiss Army personnel were deployed to secure the area and on the website of the Swiss Federal Office of Civil Aviation that air traffic for some fifty kilometers around the center of Davos would be restricted even to hang gliders he had been a teenage participant in the 2003 demonstrations against the WEF at the height of the country’s anti-globalization movement when the police had prevented him and fellow activists from demonstrating at the airport Swallowing a bite of Zürcher Geschnetzeltes—veal simmered in cream sauce—he clarified: the cops hadn’t arrested him; they had just forced his group to return to the central train station Then he’d had to wait a little while for a connection home to Bern Security might have tightened somewhat since but that such an episode constituted an act of civil disobedience within modern Swiss history was a calming thought after receiving similar assurances on the midmorning Rhätische Bahn from a fellow passenger and kinesiologist named Cäcilia—who was dressed in a Graubünden Tracht-style duck-egg-blue frock and a small lace cap to show off her traditional costume to WEF attendees—I alighted at Davos Platz without being shot 1971 was the pivotal year that Richard Nixon ended the U.S collapsing the postwar global monetary system and inaugurating an era of financial deregulation it was the year women won the right to vote in federal elections and the nation began to overturn constitutional provisions from the nineteenth century that had been designed to limit the incursion of “foreign” actors And in the midst of this tumultuous moment of reform and liberalization—when financial instability was becoming a new norm that required economic “governance” at a global scale—1971 was the year Klaus Schwab hosted the first “Davos.” his father managed a factory that drew upon the forced labor of Nazi prisoners to produce military equipment An engineer-cum-economist who studied in Switzerland for a sojourn at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government where he found a mentor in Henry Kissinger he oversaw a merger of Escher Wyss (the Swiss industrial company where his father had worked and that had supplied flamethrowers to the Third Reich) and the Sulzer Group (a diesel-engine manufacturer that had been blacklisted by the Allies during World War II for refusing to limit exports to the Axis powers) He thus turned to the obvious next project for a man of his professional expertise: writing an ethics manual for European businessmen was set up to promulgate his book’s philosophy of “stakeholder” capitalism as the world teetered from the “Nixon shock,” and then the next retaliating against the United States’ decision to resupply the Israel Defense Forces established an oil embargo on a slate of Western nations that spiked the price of American barrels by some 300 percent that participants signed “The Davos Manifesto,” a clarion call for a new world order The manifesto held that businesses not only were responsible for turning a profit “assume the role of a trustee of the material universe for future generations.” It was therefore in the interest of society to ensure optimal conditions for the free market to flourish the modern world—whose population had heretofore lived in distinct nations with their own economies and customs—was merging into an increasingly integrated system though one in which profit was still liable to be undermined by geopolitical scuffles Schwab’s event was where wealthy businessmen were beginning to assemble to make sense of this development genuine top executives must act as politicians,” he wrote in 1975 “That is to say as foreign affairs and not as domestic affairs politicians.” Schwab’s symposium enticed representatives from more and more countries and larger and larger companies As Western markets spatialized in search of cheaper manufacturing conditions Davos expanded to include delegates from new continents too: Schwab invited Deng Xiaoping to the 1979 meeting though the Chinese Communist Party’s vice chairman had the good sense to turn him down (A growing Chinese presence has since become a staple of the event.) Driven by an inflated sense of his own prophetic powers Schwab became increasingly interested in diplomacy as things took off at what eventually became the World Economic Forum he endeavored to ease embargo-related tensions between the Arab world and the West by inviting several hundred business leaders from each side to Montreux for a few days he persuaded the Greek and Turkish governments that war was perhaps not in their immediate interest when there were trade deals to be struck while also making the occasional stab at bringing peace to the Middle East The concepts of what would become cornerstones of the economic world order—the World Trade Organization and NAFTA—were said to have been developed at WEF-affiliated events Lapham filed two reports on the WEF for this magazine The new economically integrated system had wobbled but withstood its first major shock the Asian financial crisis; the euro zone was a fait accompli hovering on the calendrical horizon; and the electoral triumphs of figures such as Bill Clinton and Tony Blair meant that even governments no longer claimed to be in the business of government; instead they were partners in “governance” with business The global economy had been freed from the netting of politics—an antiquated pastime riddled with laws and voters—thereby enabling goods and capital to move freely toward new frontiers of profit opportunity for the betterment of all clockwise from top left: Klaus Schwab © Markus Schreiber/AP Photo; map of Asia and Europe 1975 © Hum Images/Alamy; a gold bar © fStop Images GmbH/Alamy; Henry Kissinger © Ian Dagnall Computing/Alamy; a gold coin © imageBROKER/GmbH & Co Multinational corporations were reaping ever-greater windfalls but there was little sign of the promised solutions to the lingering problems of hunger An assemblage of conspiracy-worthy material had begun to amass around the WEF and George Soros; Michael Jackson’s talking about “children’s rights” in an address at a spin-off event in Namibia; and the presence of such famous mediocrities as Bono and Lionel Richie and literary brownnosers like Paulo Coelho and Ben Okri all gave the impression that a cabal of wealthy elites was gathering in the Swiss Alps to run the world according to their own design An image of “Davos Man”—a term popularized by Samuel P Huntington in 2004 that referred to members of a transnational upper class who sought to disentangle themselves from the nuisance of national borders a class for whom being a citizen of the world meant the freedom to move wealth from one offshore account to another with ease people who talked big but said little—was curdling; Davos Man had become a victim of his own success too visible in the background of state and corporate handshake photos to hide from public criticism A quarter of a century after Lapham’s visit the re-eruption of continental European warfare and the emergence of China as an economic threat to American hegemony (to name but a few developments) have (to use a term beloved of WEF attendees) “fractured” the world but with increased enthusiasm since the pandemic and the WEF’s misguided pivot to distributing degrowth lifestyle insights to the plebs (own nothing the consensus from Davos seems to be that the party is over as the editor of The Economist pointed out on a WEF podcast in 2020 the safest thing to assume about the Davos consensus is that it is wrong Davos is an archetypal Swiss mountain town With its smattering of church spires rising above a low skyline of blocky pastel-colored condominiums and its pyramidal structure of councils (large for fifty-one weeks of the year it seems the very model of a self-contained Alpine community as I made my way toward the Congress Centre (the cuboid wooden structure signs of the command of global capital—however subtle—accumulated quickly Droves of delegates arriving for the WEF were disembarking from their trains via a temporary railway platform that had been built halfway between the permanent Davos Dorf and Davos Platz stations that bookend the town with a note in the window reading wef: geschlossen Next to a pair of billboards advertising discount ski gear was another bearing the image of Narendra Modi inviting you to immerse in india’s vibrant culture through technology A Methodist church displayed a banner of Christ washing a disciple’s feet inscribed with the words wirtschaft soll menschen dienen (“the economy should serve the people!”); several streets away its Evangelical counterpart had rebranded for the week as a crypto “sanctuary.” Pinned up at bus stops all over town were inkjet-printed flyers reading stop wef A few meters past a building marked blackrock which looked as though it was normally occupied by a local coffee chain the registration queue for the forum snaked around the entrance to a Coop supermarket the mountain light flowed over low-lying clouds irradiating ski pistes on the facing valley wall scattering a little snow as they swayed in place The allure of the WEF (“weff” to business-English speakers and the source of the conspiracy theories that continue to surround it has always been its twin promises: discreet facilities for an expedited schedule of private meetings and a high-profile lineup of speakers from across the public-private divide If the crafting of “cross-sectoral” policy is the focus the old guard of politics is still supposed to show up to burnish the forum with the aura of state power few major heads of state had bothered to attend: none showed up from the BRICS; only Emmanuel Macron did from the G7 panels were filled with senior cabinet ministers and the leaders of small nations the names whispered in reports of sightings on the Promenade the town’s main street: people like Marc Benioff (the CEO of Salesforce which hosted the week’s most anticipated party) Exceptions to the strengthening rule of political nonattendance could be found among the Gulf States and the United Arab Emirates in particular something that became particularly evident to me on account of the fact that I spent a great part of the week following the proceedings to which I’d not been invited from the lush confines of the UAE lounge one of the state-run biennialesque pavilions that line the rim of the WEF proper With its free hot chocolate and platters of dates it became a natural meeting spot for insiders and interlopers alike in his welcome address to the WEF congregation The theme of the meeting was “Rebuilding Trust.” The lack of a grammatical subject served to obscure the nature of the “unprecedented” challenges facing leaders of all stripes Was the problem the eroding trust between the Global “North” and “South” observed that this might be a consequence of the former’s vaccine hoarding and the post-COVID interest-rate hike that “many in the South are still paying a very high price for,” a suggestion that was summarily dismissed by the then Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte.) Was it trust in technological innovation and its capacity to deliver humanity from its self-imposed climate disaster the line of questioning chosen by WEF hosts was perplexing: Fareed Zakaria after announcing that a panel he was about to chair would “try to solve the problem of AI” in forty-five minutes became fixated on learning from Altman why it could not yet drive his car.) Or had trust been lost in institutions like the WEF itself—and in the sorts of premises that were espoused on its stages that the “complexity” intrinsic to “multipolarity” was something that could be “manage[d]” by participants (U.N or that the crises of this “unique juncture in human history” might be overcome if only WEF attendees could reestablish “trust in each other” (Schwab) One had to wonder if the reason the WEF’s relevance had so diminished was because top brass couldn’t justify time spent answering questions as asinine as WEF president Børge Brende’s about the Houthis’ motivations for drone attacks on commercial shipping lanes in the Red Sea (“How connected is this with the war in Gaza?”) they could no longer truly buy into the notion that the frictionless movement of goods and capital was a sufficient bulwark against such economic disruptions let alone something that could solve as protracted a crisis as Israel’s genocide of the Palestinians as the finance minister of Qatar reminded participants was slowing down the economy of the entire region ‘polycrisis,’ ” Colombian president Gustavo Petro declared (erroneously) on day three “fracturing” could describe not only the world outside but the state of “dialogue” within the forum itself The only premise that most of the headline speakers could agree upon was that the world the WEF had been born into was gone by “cross-sectoral partnerships,” “stakeholder engagement,” multilateral diplomacy or the holistic economic system of profit-seeking spatialization hawked by Davos Man so we don’t really know what the new order will be,” said Brende but something based on international law and the U.N “Davos is in recession,” Mark Malloch-Brown told me over the phone from within the securitized conference center on the WEF’s second day At the time the president of the Open Society Foundations and overseeing the leadership transition from Soros père to fils he was blunt about the present state of affairs: “For many years now Davos and then the Munich Security Conference”—the security-policy gathering that would be held the following month just a stone’s throw away over the Zugspitze—“and for a long period Davos was seen as the much more contemporary event.” Munich harked back to “a Cold War world,” while Davos “with globalization and market integration because suddenly security has jumped to the top of the line in the Middle East.” Elite anxiety was now much more fixated on that geopolitical agenda than on “the more corporate one here.” none of the participants I spoke to could explain the relationship between the political headline acts and the lazy Susan of corporate meetings Only one event seemed illuminating on the subject: the address of Volodymyr Zelensky who refrained from asking for more weapons and instead talked about the need for investment in his country (something he has endeavored since the start of the war to make more attractive to international companies by suppressing unions and promoting corporate land ownership) This plea seemed quite obviously linked to the presence of Jamie Dimon the CEO of JPMorgan Chase and an assiduous pro-Ukraine hawk who met with Zelensky for a closed-door conversation that same afternoon along with asset-management executives from Blackstone a building a short walk from the bakery that served as Russia House until 2022 when the WEF was forced to comply with E.U.-led Swiss wartime sanctions and excised the Kremlin and many of its associated billionaires—longtime fixtures of the Davos party circuit—from the proceedings The speech was screened across the back of a stage set up for panels later in the day “Women at War: Redefining Strength and Resilience,” during which Ukrainian veterans and medics described overcoming gender stereotypes to participate in their country’s defense “Love will save the world,” concluded one speaker; the crowd applauded and the Canadian executive of a vodka brand turned to her neighbor to declare that “we have to get Ukraine in front of the right people.” the purpose of the forum was clear: networking “There’s no more efficient way than to come to Davos and meet with four CEOs in the course of two days We can’t do that in any other setting.” Arnoldo André Tinoco disclosed to me an ongoing case in his country’s constitutional court brought by Huawei after President Rodrigo Chaves signed a law blocking the Chinese tech conglomerate from supplying 5G infrastructure to the country (two days earlier the government had announced a new CHIPS Act partnership with the Biden Administration) But despite reports that the scale of the Chinese delegation to Davos was ruffling feathers on the Antony Blinken–led American side this proxy scuffle did not seem to have any bearing on Tinoco’s presence at the WEF characterized as mostly good for “meetings.” Later that evening entered without any of the revelers seeming to notice Were people here really so nonchalant about the presence of world leaders at Eurodisco ski-chalet parties or did he lack the star power of a middle-aged Arizonan called Stan around whom all the guests seemed to orbit I took the chance offered by Varadkar’s social neglect to ask what benefit his presence at Davos might afford to Éire so it was a pretty convenient way of “having meetings.” The day after on the benches inside the local Migros cafeteria an exhausted British journalist on her third tour of the forum summed up her impression of events inside the Congress Centre: “Speed dating for CEOs.” Would no one make a principled stand for the enduring strength and importance of frictionless international trade There was one obvious candidate to ask to testify in its defense the author of such titles as Why Globalization Works (2004) The Crisis of Democratic Capitalism (2023): Martin Wolf chief economics commentator for the Financial Times who joined me before dinner on the forum’s fourth day in the curiously empty restaurant bar of the Cresta Hotel whose only other customers were a contingent from the Chinese fast-fashion brand Shein It had been “a big business story,” Wolf conceded one in which the WEF had played a large role by presenting itself “as contributing to the solution of global economic problems. . .  that’s not the world.” A sign reading shein meetings had been placed in front of the lobby’s drooping palm tree on seventy-five-hour workweeks in Guangzhou factories the emission of several million metric tons of carbon dioxide a year and an American tax loophole that has thus far enabled it to elude U.S import duties—was at Davos to “engage” public- and private-sector partners on how “responsible fashion can empower our communities and contribute to a more sustainable future.”) I turned back to Wolf it’s a part of the convening power that people can get together in this informal way,” he explained “But I don’t know that there is something you could point to in the world today that is clearly valuable and that wouldn’t have happened without the WEF. . .  It’s difficult for me to see a way in which the WEF brand has changed the world.” He paused and looked around the deserted lobby “But then neither has the Financial Times.” The Congress Centre lies in the middle of Davos one must walk half the length of the Promenade One’s first impression of the task might be that it is merely a way to commute to the real event one found a caravan of startups and slick self-promoters whose prevailing concern—unlike those inside the forum—appeared not to be for a stable new order but to secure a position from which to catch the profitable scraps scattered by the chaos of the transition been stripped and transformed into pavilions that were rented and temporarily refitted by countries and companies enormously varied in name recognition and stature Meta’s pavilion (seemingly always closed to the public) was down the road from Karnataka House (seemingly always open its staff reliably confused as to why anyone would come inside) The UAE pavilion occupied a prime spot right atop the hill that crests over the Congress Centre Potent and gritty drip coffee was permanently available and if you stalled for too long by the trays of fruit and pastries each residence offered the risk was not of being booted out but of being pounced on having your phone plucked from your hand and its LinkedIn app opened in a flash to your profile’s QR code so that you could “professionally connect” with your assailant before you’d had a chance to wipe the crumbs from your fingers and shake hands I’d wandered into something called House of Trust drawn in by the mystery institution’s seeming bastardization of the WEF’s 2024 motto seemed to offer everything from crypto to Thai real estate to daily incentives to meditate Membership was advertised on one page of its website for 4,400 francs (roughly $5,000) per annum Over the course of our rapid-fire interview explained to me that he had spent a decade in Swiss finance and it doesn’t create a positive impact.” The solution was to be found in a company that could help those “with a beautiful idea” bring their “valuable projects alive” through “an ecosystem with components of real estate and events and the members’ club” and that also promised to allow investors to purchase a Trust Share token on the Polygon blockchain then went on to name six: “Feel more alive create impact.” All signs pointed to this being a scam “stablecoin” cryptocurrency pegged to the U.S dollar that boasted that users could send money to “the unbanked” in other countries for them to hold or cash out in their local currencies I asked one of the company’s representatives—who had told me that it made no money from regular financial transactions—how this was different from standard currency trading “Humanitarian strategy is a key part of our model—our founders care deeply about justice,” she responded This kind of disconnection between question and answer was one of the most unsettling parts of the Davos experience with an apparently colossal lack of awareness regarding the Davos image to approve the hanging of a banner reading world child forum across the middle of the Promenade It was what led a branding expert responsible for an “Equality Lounge” to paste on a window the motto: ai won’t take a woman’s job as spoken by a monoglot community of polyglots All that mattered was that you were there and talking To understand what these operators were doing at Davos one has only to consult the WEF’s self-aggrandizing statement of selflessness—“committed to improving the state of the world”—which encapsulates the trickle-down promise of the Schwabian vision of global justice emanating from investments made by “conscious leaders”—“conscious” being another one of the terms beloved by those in this setting (Its antonym is not “unconscious,” but something closer to “old-fashioned,” and it is utterly democratic in its meaninglessness: “If you’re using the word ‘unconscious,’ you’re conscious,” as one conscious leader has explained.) On display everywhere was a peculiarly confounding form of circular reasoning that ran from the top of the WEF hierarchy to the bottom-end sites of the Promenade: the best way to change the world is to create a valuable business; to be valuable Within globalized capitalism’s ongoing crisis of declining profit rates new arrivals quickly hit a logical bump in the road: How to make money to change the world when nothing seems to yield a reliable buck anymore Their answer seemed to be: Go found a company whose only purpose is to claim to know how to change the world conjure up an unnecessary crypto subcomponent host a series of meaningless panels at Davos and hope investors as clueless and desperate for solutions as you are turn up to throw money at it the mood on the Promenade shifted; samovars were replaced with trays of chilled white wine and the street became an Ibiza of startup nightlife be possible for anyone in Davos to walk into one of these events and down several glasses of sauvignon blanc and a few mini quiches before hitting the road but I was glad to learn that I would be able to access a ticketed party at the Evangelical crypto sanctuary co-hosted by the Financial Times and IMAGINE (“supporting CEOs from across their industry’s value chain to take the bold action that is only possible by working together” . .  guests could help themselves to plushie foxes embroidered with the Filecoin logo I drifted over to a table at which a bored pair of American management consultants were scrolling through their X feeds and the former vice president was nearly an hour late in front of the Financial Times columnist Gillian Tett A recent piece of hers had called for WEF attendees to discuss “positive risks” in the world Our conversation was cut short by a sharp blow to my calves: a smiling Gore had bumped into me from behind There was an atmosphere of reverent jubilation in the church as he took to the stage: “I know why you’re here You’re part of the rebellion. . . . You are the ones who are going to bring the change that our world and our civilization so desperately need ecologically based movements that together make up the largest movement of its kind in the history of the world.” The room roared; someone threw a Filecoin fox into the air but Gore was still going: “Adolf Hitler’s book was entitled The Triumph of the Will Triumph over the authority of knowledge. . .  let’s make our decisions on where we’re going on the basis of what we’ve agreed is the best available evidence on what reality is Embarrassing . . . ” I left for the last train to Zurich I returned to Davos the day after the forum ended the cold air cut so cleanly through the world as to sharpen all of its edges and to be outside felt a little deadly; few were in the streets an outpost of some broader system that had briefly thrived before news of a gold mine on a new planet started circulating and the caravan moved on and the logo of the Mohammed bin Salman Foundation were being taken down from the fronts of the buildings It was as if the town had been bunkering belowground for a week As the importance of the WEF itself has waned the scale of the event known as Davos has swollen draining more and more of the town’s resources every year the population increases from twelve thousand inhabitants to around thirty thousand It is nearly impossible to drive around town take your children to school (the kids are packed off to the ski slopes for the duration of the forum) Leases—commercial and residential alike—are sometimes available only for an eleven-month period many tenants leave so that landlords can earn a year’s income in four nights Schwab demanded that the town build more hotels to accommodate forum guests and locals told me that the new luxury hotels have since driven smaller ones out of business by slashing prices during the 360 days of the year when virtually the only visitors are Swiss holidaymakers the rewards of a few extra catering or bed-making shifts or—at best—several thousand francs for abandoning your home have become less enticing when weighed against the time it takes for the town to recover in the aftermath of the forum There are strict local regulations governing when construction work for the event can take place leaving roads and public spaces unusable long after the guests have gone home a temporary construction in one of the town’s parks was still being disassembled weeks past the deadline.) The economic benefits for the conglomerates that run the upscale hotels are hardly reliable either: in the past five years at least two of the largest hotels have gone on the market The irony of a failing free market in a town that is a byword for the deluxe promises of globalization was not lost on Jürg Grassl a leading voice of Davos’s anti-WEF movement who pointed out that pressure to distort equilibriums of supply and demand is always applied by “those claiming that the invisible hand will regulate everything.” after leaving pleading notes with my email address on it in every letter box of a building draped with a bright anti-WEF banner that read ihr besetzer he was focused on an impending springtime window during which the residents of Davos might have the opportunity to oust the institution from town via a veto of the wonky cost-sharing arrangement between the WEF and the local and federal government (The bill for the WEF’s security measures comes to more than nine million francs per year fallen to Davos.) The last vote on the issue took place in September 2018 it seemed that the Davosians might have finally had enough; the Besetzer by this point so ensnared by the rhythms of the WEF I had already caught a glimpse of the mayor after wandering into the third annual ceremony of the Swiss AI Award which he had presided over during the forum playing a jazz tune on an enormous set of cowbells to demonstrate something about the “creativity” inherent in AI.) A rising star of Swiss political life once described as the “author of the Graubünden Green New Deal,” Wilhelm had political aspirations grounded in eco-modernist principles of sustainability and infrastructure investment he had demonstrated against the WEF alongside Grassl but his views were now tempered by a liberal belief in the need for public-private partnerships Wilhelm did not dispute the charge that conditions in town during the forum had deteriorated but he insisted the organization was “getting more and more involved in solving the problems we deal with during the WEF period” and rerouted our conversation toward discussion of the WEF’s new climate strategy which he claimed would aid—via a million-franc investment into a heat-pump system for the Congress Centre—his plan to make Davos a net-zero carbon emitter I had set up an ad hoc office in an evacuated Irish bar had hoped to rent it out as a pavilion for an unnamed African nation that never arrived and whose barman had advised me to come back during the weekend if I wanted to find out what locals really made of the WEF but the pub was more crowded than I had seen it all week Older men gathered on benches around the edges of the small windowless room while groups of younger people chatted and played games at the bar I took a stool and ordered a drink; the barman nodded at me but didn’t want to talk I felt like an intruder: those who come for the WEF aren’t supposed to linger; the town is no longer ours a young man sat down beside me and introduced himself as Stefan smiling face and the dregs of a pint of Guinness in his hand he signaled the bartender to top us both off He worked delivering drinks to pubs and bars in the area when large catering companies replace the local trade he had spent the week sitting on his balcony and smoking shisha who were around the same age: a Polish plumber and a local woman who worked at the Migros but none of them had faith that a vote would dislodge it from town: they’re too connected now Stefan told me; the one name means the same as the other even though the locals don’t see much of it beyond a few weeks of higher wages we moved to a club that was so full that we waited twenty minutes in the freezing air to get in It was a party to celebrate the end of the WEF who had picked up shifts at the Congress Centre that week The door swung open onto a wall of warmth and strobe lights and young people congregating for the sake of being around one another drinking vodka with maté and embracing their friends the usual patterns of life in Davos had reasserted themselves At an open-air ice rink behind the Congress Centre Just before catching the afternoon Rhätische Bahn service out of town I made a trip up the funicular to the Schatzalp the former sanatorium from Thomas Mann’s novel the only sounds I could hear down below were the scrape of skates on the rink’s surface and the puck’s low thwack ricocheting through the crystalline air out into the valley to be skeptical that Davos would so easily wriggle free from the grip of such a powerful institution the large town council approved a new settlement for security costs The WEF had offered to increase its share by just over a million francs a move that conveniently skirted the need for a vote in which residents might have been able to make their frustrations known Grassl emailed me to register his disappointment ending his message with a climate report: in his childhood the local saying went that there is “no bad weather” in the winter but the past few months had been mostly rainy and gray some half a century after the inaugural symposium the WEF announced that the now eighty-six-year-old Schwab would be stepping down from the helm of the organization with full executive responsibility to be assumed by Brende Schwab had been correct in his last opening sermon: the world is both more divided and interconnected than ever But he was wrong to conclude that this is a paradox the “fracturing” of the global economy has been an unrivaled opportunity to better integrate with the great states of old and the icons of multinational capital Such has been the path of the United Arab Emirates whose pride of place on the Promenade last January feels Not coincidental because representatives of the Emirates—a federation born at the very end of that auspicious year when it cut loose from the ailing British Empire just in time to get rich from the embargo-instigated spike in oil prices—were the darlings of the forum praised throughout for being among the few winners of the multipolar polycrisis if the WEF is an event designed to expedite commercial connections between business and government while remaining bland and noncommittal on matters of world affairs then this has also been the exact model through which the United Arab Emirates has thrived in recent years: court American and Chinese investment; allow Russian oil to flow; throw money at tech unicorns; establish numerous semiautonomous Brende’s search for a new world order on the basis of the U.N A new habitat for Davos Man is already forming in the model of the Emirati free zone—the natural consequence of the project to safeguard the private accumulation of profit from political interference to try to divine the future of globalization The program was mooted in October at an even more restricted gathering the WEF’s Annual Meeting of the Global Future Councils held in that desert oasis where capital moves freely Timeless stories from our 175-year archive handpicked to speak to the news of the day “An unexpectedly excellent magazine that stands out amid a homogenized media landscape.” —the New York Times and mailings and dive into the most pressing foreign policy issues with insights from our experts I consent to receiving the selected ECFR newsletters and to the analysis of open & click rates. I can revoke my consent later by clicking on the link at the end of every newsletter or by writing to [email protected]. More information on how we process personal data can be found here The Africa programme analyses the geopolitics of the Africa-Europe relationship the programme delves into relations between the African Union and the European Union to find creative foreign policy tools and strategies It also focuses on two regions that are particularly relevant for Europe: the Horn of Africa and the Sahel The Asia programme seeks to help Europe recalibrate its relationship with China and its Asian partners The programme analyses China’s domestic situation It also places a renewed emphasis on fostering Europe’s relationships with the Indo-Pacific The European Power programme is focused on helping Europeans develop sustainable policy solutions to the issues affecting the European Union’s capacity to act with unity on the global scene This includes analysing the path forward for enlargement The Middle East and North Africa programme seeks to support a coherent European agenda in pursuit of regional interests The programme works with European and regional governments and civil society to advance channels of dialogue as well as providing direct policy prescriptions to secure conflict de-escalation The US programme helps Europeans create policy responses to developments in US domestic politics and foreign policy The programme seeks to strengthen transatlantic relations by exploring the obstacles to a more balanced partnership and developing ideas to overcome them The Wider Europe programme aims to help the European Union defend its interests and values in the Western Balkans as well as the South Caucasus and central Asia The programme also supports EU decision-makers work on a unified and coherent policy to address the challenges resulting from Russia’s full scale-invasion of Ukraine Nowhere was this more obvious than at the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) latest annual gathering in Davos the WEF has been an integral part of the liberal international order that emerged from the ashes of the second world war It is where the world’s political and economic elites come together to discuss global risks and explore solutions to collective challenges such as climate change the 55th Davos summit was a continuation of a longer-running tradition nothing about this year’s gathering was normal because it coincided exactly with Trump’s second inauguration as president of the United States Trump’s return to the White House marks the start of an anti-Davos age Gone is any sense of a global order in which countries pursue joint solutions to shared problems We are entering a “polyworld” governed by polycentrism and polysemy (when a word or symbol has multiple meanings).  he is instructing Chinese society to prepare for a long period of chaos and disruption Moreover, Trump’s desire to upend the global order is surprisingly popular around the world. ECFR has just conducted a poll showing that most people around the world welcome Trump with open arms They like the idea of the US becoming a “normal power.” No longer can we expect middle powers such as India or South Africa to shore up a single US-centred order each of them thinks of itself as a serious power—as a centre The only countries that are nervous about Trump are America’s closest allies in Europe and Asia since they have long based their own security and prosperity on the notion of American exceptionalism.  The second feature of the moment is the polycrisis and the shifting nature of capitalism will create continuous disruptions But unlike single acute crises (like a financial collapse) the polycrisis will not foster unity or a desire for common rules the multitude of simultaneous challenges will generate competition for attention; climate will have to compete with migration The upshot is a fragmented world of different tribes with different priorities each will inevitably be weaponised in ways that lead to further fragmentation Since the first thing that happens in a crisis is a suspension of rules the rule-based order will give way to a perpetual state of exception.  The new crises are taking us into unknown territory not least because they are interacting with one another in complex and unpredictable ways Everyone will believe what they want to believe How can we agree on rules and norms when we no longer agree on basic facts?  The defining global challenge is no longer to combat disorder because a state of disorder implies some common agreement on what order should look like What we have instead is “unorder”: the very idea of order has been overtaken by events.  Now that Trump is starting to implement his policies in earnest we will see if the global south’s enthusiasm for his presidency lasts I heard one political leader advise others to “chill out” and not feel obliged to respond to all of Trump’s talk of tariffs and territorial expansion Rather than organising the global resistance to Trump most are looking for ways to advance the WEF’s globalist goals in the context of the new polycentric world But now that Trump is starting to implement his policies in earnest we will see if the global south’s enthusiasm for his presidency lasts.   Business and political leaders will continue to gather there long after he has gone But the liberal international order of which the WEF was a pillar is unlikely ever to return to its postwar form The agenda there – and at the United Nations and other institutions – will need to be revised accordingly This article was first published on Project Syndicate on January 27th 2025 Be the first to know about our latest publications I consent to receiving the selected ECFR newsletters and to the analysis of open & click rates. I can revoke my consent later by clicking on the link at the end of every newsletter or by writing to [email protected]. More information on how we process personal data can be found here Essential cookies enable basic functions and are necessary for the proper function of the website Content from video platforms and social media platforms is blocked by default displaying this content no longer requires manual consent At the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting in Davos Deloitte convened global leaders across business government and civil society to explore coming together to harness transformative technology—to drive purposeful progress By collaborating and innovating with purpose, we continued to unlock technology's potential to help create a more equitable and sustainable future we are tackling some of the world’s greatest challenges Health equity isn’t just a moral imperative—it’s an economic one that has business solutions with the potential to drive trillions of dollars in economic growth worldwide and US$2.8 trillion in the US alone it's the time to reimagine what’s possible This session spotlighted groundbreaking innovations and disruptive place-based models that are building healthier Watch the recap Panelists explore insights from the fourth quarterly edition of Deloitte’s State of Generative AI in the Enterprise report and how the GenAI market has transformed over the past year Including opportunities and challenges when it comes to adoption and governance; and how leaders can balance passion and patience amid evolving macro trends along the journey Watch the recap Energy & Industrials leaders are being called to boldly lead their organizations through unprecedented times from navigating geopolitical headwinds to supply chain challenges and the need to accelerate decarbonization and the energy transition Watch the recap Watch the recap We likely understand by now that AI/GenAI can have a positive impact on business but how can large financial institutions reap these benefits Financial institutions are heavily regulated How can they achieve the potential of AI/GenAI safely Watch the recap This workshop explored the transformative power of circularity and its role in helping drive competitive advantage across industries As global regulations around sustainability tighten businesses are increasingly looking to circularity as a means to not only comply but thrive attendees gained insights into the practical applications of circularity and strategies for leveraging these practices to help achieve operational efficiency market leadership and potentially create new revenue streams with circular business models Watch the recap Come meet our delegates face-to-face in the heart of Davos at Deloitte Haus* Deloitte Haus is a place to connect with our clients Relive some of the defining moments from Davos 2025 where leaders gathered to shape the agenda for the year ahead—from harnessing the power of GenAI and innovative technologies to forging a path towards a sustainable future Deloitte is a strategic partner of the World Economic Forum (WEF) WEF is an international organization that connects leaders from business WEF and its strategic partners work collaboratively to address issues of global importance and inspire action to improve the state of the world The five World Economic Forum 2025 themes represent more than individual challenges - they form an interconnected framework where progress in one area can create virtuous cycles that strengthen entire systems Global communication patterns have shifted dramatically with digitally delivered services growing at 8.2% annually – outpacing average trade growth of 5.8% This technological progress unfolds against a backdrop of societal divides and shifting geopolitical dynamics Research reveals trust as a systemic force where business investments and policy decisions reverberate beyond immediate stakeholders influencing social cohesion and governance structures Data indicates a strong correlation between governance quality and societal trust with countries experiencing safety and security deteriorations showing corresponding declines in institutional trust This pattern becomes especially relevant as international relations shift toward multipolarity while protectionist policies affect global trade and investment flows The digital economy now represents over 15.5% of global GDP and analyses suggest it could generate up to 70% of new value in the global economy over the next decade This expansion occurs alongside significant economic headwinds including high debt levels and reduced fiscal buffers Research indicates that violence carries a global economic cost of £19.1 trillion (13.5% of global GDP) Data shows countries with improving peace indicators tend to demonstrate stronger economic performance suggesting links between stability and economic health Current analyses indicate nearly 40% of global employment shows exposure to AI influences Research suggests this technological impact appears more likely to augment rather than replace human work Data reveals correlations between societal safety and human capital development where stable societies show stronger foundations for education These patterns offer insights for public and private sector investment considerations particularly in emerging and frontier fields International Energy Agency data suggests current technological capabilities could contribute to 66% of emissions reductions needed for net-zero by 2050 Regions facing high ecological risks often show correlations with lower peace indicators suggesting complex interconnections between environmental and social stability The energy sector data reveals a complex balance between affordability Projections indicate electricity demand from the tech sector may increase from 460 TWh today to 1,000 TWh by 2026 Theme 5: Industries in the Intelligent Age Technology has emerged as the primary driver of change across industries requiring leaders to develop new competencies for managing structural transformations and automation presents unprecedented opportunities but also demands careful consideration of their societal impacts Business leaders must navigate these changes whilst maintaining robust business environments that bring both innovation and stability This includes addressing potential disruptions to supply chains and operational vulnerabilities – challenges that invite a deeper consideration of how technological advancement can serve both commercial and societal interests Global challenges and opportunities interconnect – where progress in one area naturally can strengthen the others The complexity of these challenges suggests that traditional boundaries between businesses and civil society may need to blur and adapt Early evidence indicates that successful approaches will likely emerge from the thoughtful integration of technological advancement As we move deeper into the Intelligent Age how organisations respond to these five themes may well determine the resilience and prosperity of our shared future Vision of Humanity is brought to you by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) we present fresh perspectives on current affairs reflecting our editorial philosophy They have become more international with 92 countries involved in conflicts outside.. Positive Peace deficits offer a new lens through which to view global hotspots and potential flashpoints Identifying and measuring the factors that drive peace Tracking the trends shaping international relations © 2025 Institute for Economics & Peace Subscribe to the Vision Of Humanity mailing list The world’s political and business elite present in Davos on Wednesday faced an uncompromising address from UN chief António Guterres as he rounded on a lack of multilateral collaboration in an “increasingly rudderless world” at risk from two existential dangers: climate change and unregulated Artificial Intelligence (AI) Mr. Guterres was speaking at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum the exclusive event held high in the Swiss Alps where senior politicians Heads of State and CEOs of some of the world’s biggest and most influential companies rub shoulders The UN Secretary-General took aim at the theme of this year’s meeting maintaining that there has been scant proof of either collaboration or intelligence and plenty of evidence that many of the world’s problems are worsening from conflicts to inequality and assaults on human rights Nuclear war is no longer the only existential threat to humanity pointing to the climate crisis and the “ungoverned expansion” of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Likening fossil fuel addiction to Frankenstein’s monster – “sparing nothing and no one” - the Secretary-General noted the irony that 13 of the world’s biggest ports for oil supertankers are set to be overwhelmed by rising sea levels a consequence of rising temperatures and sea ice melt A number of financial institutions and industries are backtracking on climate commitments And you are on the wrong side of consumers who are looking for more sustainability Looking ahead to the UN Climate Conference (COP30) in Brazil at the end of the year the UN chief reminded world leaders that they must keep their promise to produce new economy-wide national climate action plans well before the event Developing countries need a “surge in finance" for climate action urging not just governments but all businesses and financial institutions to create robust and accountable transition plans helping farmers to increase their yields and improving the targeting of aid But it comes with profound risks if it is left ungoverned: it can disrupt economies undermine trust in institutions and deepen inequalities The Global Digital Compact – part of the Pact for the Future adopted by UN Member States last September – offers a “roadmap to harness the immense potential of digital technology and close digital divides” with a shared vision of AI serving humanity Despite the challenges, the UN will never halt its demand for peace grounded in the UN Charter international law and the principles of sovereignty political independence and the territorial integrity of States cautioning: “I am not convinced leaders get it.” The Secretary-General concluded his remarks with a return to the theme of this year’s Davos event appealing to the global community to face these existential challenges head on and work as one.  The world continues to grapple with unprecedented challenges but there are reasons for cautious optimism in 2025 - on a long-awaited Gaza ceasefire, climate action, tackling inequality and harnessing AI for the public good - Secretary-General António Guterres insisted on Wednesday Global Climate Agreements: Successes and Failures How Tobacco Laws Could Help Close the Racial Gap on Cancer Could Trump’s Tariffs Replace Income Tax for the Bottom 90% Peter McColough Series on International Economics With Robert E Michael Froman is president of the Council on Foreign Relations where I am pleased to report that globalization is alive and well—at least from the perspective of the middle powers and the Global South offers a snapshot of key geopolitical and economic trends the thoroughfare has been transformed into a long line of sleek booths and lodges sponsored by countries and multinational corporations Gone are the Russian pavilions from years past and not just when Volodymyr Zelenskyy was there A summary of global news developments with CFR analysis delivered to your inbox each morning. Weekdays examining the debates and efforts to improve health worldwide. Weekly though still central players in the global economy Perhaps they are hiding their strength and biding their time amid the potential for a new wave of protectionism in Europe and the United States Or perhaps they don’t need to show their wares in the Alps to continue surging ahead in clean energy the street is replete with representation from emerging economies and developing countries filled with booths from national champion firms and staff who eagerly hand out cultural delicacies to passersby The new economic and political realities in the Middle East are particularly evident The Gulf powers’ installations spared no expense Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdistan region has a building all to itself and a popular tea stand and others sponsored by one or another Indian state Indian companies are also well represented from Wipro and Infosys to Tata and Tech Mahindra But there is little of the triumphalism that characterized India’s presence just a year ago before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s electoral setback when the country seemed to be on top of the world Davos started as a European management retreat almost no European country has made an effort to demonstrate their presence Belgium has a pavilion and hosted a rollicking dance party Poland has a small installation set back from the Promenade Evidently sponsored by some crypto investors it looks positively dystopian from the outside with modernist rendering of eagles and a rocket ship there seem to be fewer government leaders on hand German Chancellor Olaf Scholz made a brief appearance Argentine President Javier Milei captivated and terrified the crowd and there was a smattering of royalty and heads of government from smaller countries The nongovernmental organizations and development activists who once set the tone for much of Davos played a relatively low-key role The balance of this multistakeholder gathering has shifted decisively in the direction of the private sector Davos has at times been a bellwether of bubbles crypto firms seemed to have taken over every other venue on the Promenade companies represented are the hardy perennials—the hyperscalers the usual array of financial services and consulting firms But if most of the energy on the Promenade is being driven by middle powers and the Global South participants here have only one country and one person on their mind: the United States and Donald Trump There has been a marked shift in the Davos crowd’s disposition toward Trump he was an anathema to the proudly globalist attendees who sought refuge in the Alps the attitude toward him is neither defiant nor distraught; it is pragmatic If you’re the CEO of a large American firm you have made peace with the elements of Trump’s policies you don’t like (tariffs immigration restrictions) and given greater weight to the ones you do (lower taxes there is also a palpable fear of retribution and a desire to stay off Trump’s radar screen Some of the participants appear to be in denial They look for any signal to confirm their preferences “President Trump said he was going to impose tariffs on Day 1 and didn’t Maybe he’s not serious about tariffs after all.” But by Day 4 that sort of wishful thinking got a dose of cold water when Trump appeared by video noting the sorry situation of Europe’s regulatory state one of the themes that has emerged here is the divergence between the optimism about the U.S with the rest of the world falling somewhere in between There is bullishness about Southeast Asia and the Middle East In my conversations with government and business leaders throughout the week there was a growing recognition that Trump has entered office with significant political capital: the popular vote Republican control of both houses of Congress and a staunchly loyal cabinet and cadre of top advisers and nation states and business leaders are eager to cut deals with him With the first day of the conference overlapping with inauguration quite understandably no senior representative from the Trump administration came to Davos The same is true for the spirit of multilateralism There is little faith that global institutions will be the most effective forums for engaging with the new administration in Washington and coalitions of the able are the order to the day It will be interesting to see who from the Trump administration attends next year taking the president’s vision of world order to the belly of the globalist beast I sense that such an emissary would be welcome the United States remains the indispensable nation The President’s Inbox Recap: The Future of U.S Kissinger at One Hundred: The CFR Connection It Matters How We Define the African Diaspora A Tale of Two Elections: Trump Casts Shadow Over Australia and Singapore World Press Freedom Continues Decline at a Time of Upheaval Chapman Business School Leaders Present at World Economic Forum in Davos Dean Henrik Cronqvist and Helene Blanchette Shared Insights on the Future of Work and AI in Higher Education Orange, Calif. – Two leaders from Chapman University’s George L. Argyros College of Business and Economics were invited to join global thought leaders to discuss the future of work and education at the Davos Lodge during the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting in Davos each gave talks on how higher education institutions can evolve in an era defined by artificial intelligence and digital transformation the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting brings together global leaders from business and other sectors to address pressing issues and serves as a major hub for influencing policy and shaping discourse This year’s theme was “Collaboration in the Intelligent Age.” “Business schools play a pivotal role in developing tomorrow’s leaders and we need to evolve to meet the realities of today where students are shifting from corporate careers to more flexible purpose-driven opportunities in the gig economy,” said Cronqvist “I presented a model where institutions help students build their portfolios through real-world experience offer alumni lifelong access to classes beyond graduation and leverage AI career coaching to help students navigate the job market.” Blanchette detailed how AI is quickly transforming higher education and urged institutions to prepare students for a rapidly changing workforce and personalize education if we are mindful about the ethical risks and the dangers of over-reliance on technology,” said Blanchette She called for increased cultivation of critical thinking skills when interfacing with AI and for fostering industry partnerships to ensure graduates have mastery of the technology and learn to manage a workforce that could include AI workers Chapman’s invitation to participate alongside the world’s most influential thought leaders underscores the university’s leadership in business education and its continued commitment to innovation The college offers unmatched access to industry leaders and powerful networks in tech strong ties to Fortune 500 companies and a dedicated Career Center the college equips students with real-world opportunities to turn academic success into thriving careers Lucia Rahilly is the global editorial director and deputy publisher of McKinsey Global Publishing and is based in the New York office and Roberta Fusaro is an editorial director in the Boston office What a week. The World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting is always a kind of Rorschach test of the world’s hopes and concerns This year’s weeklong meeting overdelivered on both counts Let’s start with the tensions: Wars in Ukraine and the Middle East and—late in the week—a new wild card in the race for AI leadership had delegates buzzing Long-standing problems like demographic change and muted progress in the energy transition did not lighten the mood attendees were equally energized by the potential for resolution to critical conflicts and an enormous range of new ideas on view that could accelerate growth We spoke with hundreds of business leaders and leading thinkers; our conversations focused heavily on how to find real Here are the seven themes that we heard consistently throughout the week: WEF’s theme for this year’s meeting was “collaboration in the intelligent age.” We saw signs everywhere of new forms of collaboration and new smart solutions to the world’s enduring problems Watch the video for more insights into our conversations with chief executives If you would like to learn more about the IAEA’s work sign up for our weekly updates containing our most important news  IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi speaking at an event on tripling nuclear energy at the Davos meeting The work of the IAEA was “at the centre” of debates at the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos this week as the Director General joined global leaders to discuss pressing challenges Rafael Mariano Grossi met with governments international organizations and the world business community at the event - a high-level hub for public-private cooperation on global challenges The overall focus of this year’s annual meeting was ‘responding to geopolitical shocks stimulating growth to improve living standards and stewarding a just and inclusive energy transition’ “The work of the IAEA is at the centre of the debates the nexus between nuclear energy and artificial intelligence has attracted a lot of attention,” the Director General said in Davos The IAEA held a session on nuclear's role in meeting energy demands for artificial intelligence (AI) with experts from Bloomberg and technology venture capitalists DCVC “Big tech needs nuclear to power energy-intensive AI data centres,” explained Mr Grossi A major event was also held on tripling nuclear energy financing and collaboration in scaling up nuclear A few years ago, discussions might have been about phasing out nuclear energy.Today, at @wef #WEF25, we’re on "the road to tripling nuclear capacity". This shows how nuclear is increasingly seen as essential for net-zero and energy transition.Watch ↓ https://t.co/P9oRXGX2Dg The Director General met with multiple world leaders to discuss development including Panama’s President Jose Raul Mulino Austria’s Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg and Flanders’ Minister-President Matthias Diependaele Mr Grossi and Mr Mulino engaged on the IAEA’s Atoms4Food programme, as well as improving cancer care with the IAEA’s Rays Of Hope programme “The IAEA is proud to stand with Panama in building a healthier more resilient future for its people,” the Director General said Another key topic for the week was international security particularly the IAEA’s role in ensuring nonproliferation worldwide Addressed pressures on nonproliferation amid rising geostrategic tensions at @wef #WEF25 Rubik's Cube of Global Security. In today’s complex geopolitical landscape, the nonproliferation regime remains indispensable and, despite challenges, it has served the global community well. pic.twitter.com/58oDiyHuTv Watch the recording of the session here The Director General was also active in closed sessions on artificial intelligence and sustainable energy in Latin America with leaders of the region as well as an event on growing the African economy with leaders from the continent “The mission and the importance of the IAEA continue to grow This is why we are here in Davos,” concluded the Director General Davos 2024: Nuclear Technologies for Climate and Cancer Highlighted IAEA Director General Visits Panama to Strengthen Cooperation through Rays of Hope and Atoms4Food IAEA Director General Visits Paraguay to Strengthen Cooperation on Nuclear Sciences and Energy for Development Views Decentralization of Services to Expand Access McKinsey is focusing on six major themes at this year’s annual meeting including those that are prominent on the CEO agenda To continue the conversation on Davos, please Join senior partners Tracy Francis, Daniel Pacthod, and Rodney Zemmel on Tuesday CET for a debrief of what happened at this year's World Economic Forum They will discuss the ideas that dominated conversations and share the takeaways all global leaders should know This issue is preventing our website from loading properly. Please review the following troubleshooting tips or contact us at [email protected] By submitting your email, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use and to receive email correspondence from us The 2025 World Economic Forum in Davos will be a critical moment on the international calendar for setting priorities for the year ahead in an increasingly fractious global environment FP brought together leaders and changemakers across government and closed-door conversations aimed at fostering frank dialogue about how to tackle urgent global challenges effectively and collaboratively These conversations covered topics from the future of cancer care and tuberculosis eradication to tackling economic inequality — and most importantly and investments necessary to put these solutions into action Foreign Policy hosted a public event and reception held across from the Davos Congress Centre on the future of cancer care This session covered innovative strategies for early detection and the next generation of cancer care and health system strengthening and policymaking joined and shared actionable insights and highlighted the critical interplay between science and policy to drive meaningful advancements in cancer care View Recording Foreign Policy and our partners at Bayer convened a closed-door Chatham House Rule discussion to address the impacts and implications of menopause for women in the workforce and civil society examined relevant policies and offer recommendations for the public and non-profit sectors to raise awareness and address the health and socio-economic impacts of menopause The next frontier in combating infectious diseases lies in harnessing cutting-edge innovations such as digital health tools and advanced technologies Foreign Policy and Stop TB Partnership were at the 2025 World Economic Forum for an invitation-only roundtable Informed by a Foreign Policy issue brief on the topic the conversation explored how strategic private-sector engagement and innovative health solutions can address gaps in diagnostics and healthcare access unlock substantial economic opportunities and measurable returns on investment This Foreign Policy Roundtable brought together companies across sectors and disclosure experts to discuss strategies for navigating evolving policy and consumer dynamics while maintaining commitments to and showing progress on business and sustainability goals This Chatham House discussion was an opportunity for stakeholders to have a frank conversation on how to leverage cross-industry collaboration and technological innovation to achieve a sustainable future Amid the backdrop of the 2025 World Economic Forum and ahead of the UN high-level meeting on NCDs and the Pfizer Foundation hosted a closed-door the conversation explored the importance of national cancer control plans what elements should be standardized within them what the financial investment targets should be the role of public-private partnerships to advance plan priorities and how to coordinate regionally and internationally to drive health system sustainability and improve cancer outcomes for patients and health systems worldwide Millions of thought leaders across the globe turn to Foreign Policy to understand the complexities of unfolding crises Our FP Events division brings these insights to a global audience that’s hungry for informative and credible dialogue that incorporates a range of perspectives We collaborate with organizations across sectors around the world, connecting our partners with FP′s influential audience through high-level convenings and incisive conversations at the intersection of policy, business, and global markets. Learn more about how to partner with us President von der Leyen launched the Global Energy Transition Forum together with the Executive Director of the International Energy Agency the world rallied behind the targets of tripling renewable energy and doubling energy efficiency by 2030 The Forum brings together partners from across the world who all share the same objective: maintaining the momentum on the clean energy transition No one can be left behind in the global clean energy transition President von der Leyen also highlighted the need for a collective effort to boost Africa's renewable energy production Despite holding 60% of the world's best solar resources and aiming to increase its renewable energy capacity fivefold by 2030 the continent currently gets less than 2% of global clean energy investments.   The President will also tackle this issue at a dinner hosted tonight in Davos on the theme of the campaign she launched together with President Ramaphosa of South Africa The President's speech at the launch event is available online. More information on the campaign is available online.   EC AV PORTAL – Audiovisual Service  Argentina’s President Javier Milei delivers his speech at the Annual Meeting of World Economic Forum in Davos Attendees listen to a virtual speech delivered by U.S at the Annual Meeting of World Economic Forum in Davos People attend the Global Situation Space session at the Annual Meeting of World Economic Forum in Davos People walk during snow fall in front of the Congress Center where the World Economic Forum takes place in Davos attends a panel discussion at the Annual Meeting of World Economic Forum in Davos “We are witnessing a backsliding in democracy everywhere in the world It is a movement into the bad — in the wrong direction.” — Alain Berset a former Swiss president who heads the Council of Europe which defends human rights and supports democracy “The common denominator for the countries that are failing is the mental virus of woke ideology It is the great pandemic of our time that needs to be cured It is the cancer that must be cut out.” — Javier Milei “If you don’t make your product in America Europe must establish itself as a strong global player Let’s not forget — there’s no ocean separating European countries from Russia.” — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Europe’s aid for Ukraine “I hope there is an argument that can be made to Trump that this is the thing that (Joe) Biden and (Barack) Obama and (Bill) Clinton couldn’t do this is your chance to get a great big gold medal.” — Tom Fletcher on hopes that Trump could foster peace in the Middle East “The world is undergoing an energy transition that is unstoppable.” — United Nations climate chief Simon Stiell saying that the “door remains open” if the U.S wants to get back into the Paris accord one day “Our fossil fuel addiction is a Frankenstein monster we see clear signs that the monster has become master.” -- U.N discussing companies that backtracked on climate commitments “The hope within Meta is that this will actually work better and it also has a big advantage which is that Meta has never seen itself as having the legitimacy to decide what is right or wrong for society.” — Meta Platforms AI scientist Yann Lecun explaining the social media company’s decision to replace its fact-checking program with crowd-sourced community notes Deciding to skip President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration outgoing President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump depart Washington en route to his Mar-a-Lago Florida Resort The snow blankets the town of Davos prior the 55th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum President Donald Trump will take part virtually in the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos just days after his inauguration live in a dialogue with our participants,” Brende told reporters Tuesday as he presented the five-day program that will start Monday — the day of Trump’s inauguration “We think that will be a very special moment,” he added notably to help learn the administration’s “policy priorities.” Forum organizers say a record of around 900 business leaders will take part in the annual meeting this year which is expected to draw nearly 3,000 participants from over 130 countries economic uncertainty and other issues in mind Brende acknowledged that the 55th annual meeting of the forum will take place “against the most complicated geopolitical backdrop in generations.” “But still in that fragmented and partly polarized world there are still areas where we can collaborate and .. we have big opportunities and responsibilities to find those areas where there is a possibility to improve the state of the world,” he said The theme of this year’s edition is “Collaboration for the Intelligent Age” -- a nod to the growing importance of technology in the world Forum managing director Mirek Dušek insisted that the number of businesses from developing countries in the “Global South” was growing and the attendance of their leaders was “on parity” with that participation of leaders in the developed world president of the European Union’s executive commission plans to attend the opening day of meetings on Tuesday after an introductory gala the night before Other top envoys include President Javier Milei of Argentina “We are ready to roll up our sleeves to make the best out of a situation where we are faced with many español  français The WEF’s annual meeting was held under the theme “Collaboration for the Intelligent Age” In her speaking engagements and interactions with heads of state DG Okonjo-Iweala highlighted the importance of the WTO for the world economy and for addressing current global challenges She also underlined the risks of further economic fragmentation and the trade opportunities arising from advancements in artificial intelligence and the green economy she warned against escalating trade tensions which could potentially trigger a damaging trade war At an event on 21 January titled Finding Growth in Uncertain Times she stated that trade has remained resilient despite recent crises emphasizing that “trade will still be a source of growth.” She highlighted findings from a recent WTO study indicating the potential for double-digit trade growth if artificial intelligence tools are adopted as they can reduce trade costs and boost productivity DG Okonjo-Iweala also underscored the WTO’s relevance beyond the issue of tariffs noting its role in ensuring food and product safety standards for imported goods She cautioned against the risks of further trade fragmentation: “We've done simulations that show that fragmenting into two geopolitical trading blocs and adding trade policy uncertainty may lead to a real loss in global GDP in the longer term of 6.4% This is like losing the economy of Japan and Korea combined.” DG Okonjo-Iweala discussed the role of trade in environmental preservation at the session Squaring the Climate-Trade Circle on 22 January.  “You can’t have the adoption of clean energy technology without trade,” she said She also proposed that countries produce and export goods in line with their environmental comparative advantage or the products causing the least damage in terms of carbon emissions On 23 January, DG Okonjo-Iweala took part in a townhall titled Debating Tariffs alongside Valdis Dombrovskis European Commissioner for Economy and Productivity but I hope we have a strong analysis of what this means,” she said When asked about potential new tariffs being discussed in the United States the Director-General warned against a spiral of retaliation that could impact the global economy as observed in the 1930s when raising tariffs worsened the economic crisis “If we have tit-for-tat retaliation and we go to where we were in the 1930s we are going to see double-digit global GDP losses and the poor countries will pay even more,” she stressed the Director-General attended a ministerial gathering on WTO issues at the invitation of Guy Parmelin Swiss Federal Councillor and head of the Department of Economic Affairs Ministers considered the way ahead for the Organization and initial plans for the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference to be held in March 2026 in Yaoundé ministers “underlined the significance of the WTO and the rules-based transparent and predictable multilateral trading system” Problems viewing this page? If so, please contact [email protected] giving details of the operating system and web browser you are using 2025undefined minsShareThe World Economic Forum's annual summit takes place on January 20 Switzerland | Credit: World Economic ForumThe WEF's annual summit begins on 20 January In this explainer we look at the significance key players and historical context of the eventEach January the small resort town of Davos transforms into a hub of global decision making The World Economic Forum (WEF) convenes its annual meeting there activists and media leaders from across the world to discuss the most pressing issues of our time What began as a modest gathering in 1971 has evolved into one of the most influential summits in global politics shaping policies and partnerships across the world Ahead of the next summit, set to commence on 20 January, 2025 Sustainability Magazine breaks down everything you need to know about Davos the World Economic Forum and the significance it holds in the sustainability calendar a German economist with a mission to promote global collaboration the WEF was conceived as a management conference for European businesses attracting participants from across the globe to discuss topics as diverse as geopolitics Davos’ remote location may seem an unlikely setting for such high-stakes discussions but its mountainous milieu speaks to the forum’s commitment to avoiding the distractions of cities sustainability has dominated the Davos agenda reflecting growing concerns over climate change and net zero emissions are commonplace in the summit’s discussions and its focus aligns closely with directives given by the UN many of the initiatives launched at Davos have helped to catalyse global efforts in the pursuit of sustainability from the Paris Agreement to advancements in renewable energy and ESG investment frameworks The annual gathering also serves as a showcase for cutting edge technologies renewable energy and sustainable agriculture are prominent at Davos with many technologies often making their debut at the forum Davos acts as the bridge between science and policy promises to be a defining moment in the summit’s storied history This year’s meeting will address the intersecting crises of our time with unprecedented urgency A perfect storm of challenges — rising global temperatures economic instability and geopolitical tensions — demands bold action and collaboration At the heart of this year’s agenda is its theme Resilience and Renewal: Pathways to a Sustainable Future The spotlight will be on decarbonisation efforts water security and the equitable distribution of resources Another distinguishing feature of the 2025 summit is its expanded emphasis on youth and grassroots voices Davos has been criticised for its failure to listen to voices from outside the highest echelons The WEF has announced new initiatives to amplify perspectives from indigenous communities social entrepreneurs and climate activists under the age of 30 This reflects a growing recognition that the solutions to global challenges must be inclusive and bottom-up Critics often point to the summit’s exclusivity with its guest list dominated by the world’s wealthiest individuals and most powerful institutions Professor of Global Transformations and Governance Challenges at Leiden University “It is an exclusive invitation-only club and meaningful participation is mainly limited to the world’s more powerful governments corporations and civil society actors," he says when excluded people disagree with or feel harmed by WEF activities they generally lack adequate channels to be heard and pursue redress.” Concerns about greenwashing have also been levelled at some corporate participants especially those from the fossil fuels sector defenders argue that the WEF’s strength lies in its ability to bring together diverse stakeholders under one roof enabling partnerships and policies for the sustainable transition that might otherwise be impossible Ignacio Galán Chairman of Iberdrola is an optimistic participant "The opportunities presented by the transition are enormous," he says "but it is vital that both business and policy makers focus now on ensuring that people have the right skills and training." the transition will not be achieved and the benefits will be non-existent." the world’s eyes turn to Davos with anticipation Will this year’s summit yield tangible commitments to reduce emissions and bolster global resilience Can it bridge the divides between nations and sectors to create a shared vision for the future "The question is no longer if we can achieve a clean energy future but how we address the financial structural and regional barriers to do so," says Christian Bruch "The success of the global energy transition hinges on our ability to bridge financing gaps and tailor solutions to diverse regional realities one thing remains clear: Davos is still a barometer of global priorities its significance as a platform for collective action and innovation has never been greater Whether you view it as a crucible for change or a symbol of elitism the annual meeting in Davos always seems to shape the course of global politics Explore the latest edition of  Sustainability Magazine  and be part of the conversation at our global conference series,  Sustainability LIVE .  Discover all our  upcoming events  and secure your tickets today Sustainability Magazine is a BizClik brand US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order looking to increase deep sea mining, drawing concerns for undiscovered species living there… This week's top stories include Earth Day, Harvard's ongoing DEI dispute, Microsoft's recycling achievements, China's NDCs & Sustainability LIVE Dubai… Connecting decision makers to a dynamic network of information, people and ideas, Bloomberg quickly and accurately delivers business and financial information, news and insight around the world But What’s It Actually Like Attending It?A primer to the world’s most prestigious gathering Global leaders are packing their bags for a busy week of meetings I’ve programmed numerous global editorial events for Bloomberg Live over the past seven years and the WEF always has the fastest pace to it Schedules for the world’s most influential people can open and close on the fly highly relevant issue briefs and reports that break new ground with a focus on advancing debates by integrating foundational research and analysis with concrete policy solutions the Atlantic Council’s experts have you covered—delivering their sharpest rapid insight and forward-looking analysis direct to your inbox New Atlanticist is where top experts and policymakers at the Atlantic Council and beyond offer exclusive insight on the most pressing global challenges—and the United States’ role in addressing them alongside its allies and partners A weekly column by Atlantic Council President and CEO Frederick Kempe Inflection Points focuses on the global challenges facing the United States and how to best address them UkraineAlert is a comprehensive online publication that provides regular news and analysis on developments in Ukraine’s politics UkraineAlert sources analysis and commentary from a wide-array of thought-leaders and activists from Ukraine and the global community MENASource offers the latest news from across the Middle East and independent analysis from fellows and staff Econographics provides an in-depth look at trends in the global economy utilizing state-of-the-art data visualization tools DAVOS—The week in the Swiss mountains began with delegates huddled around small TV screens in hotel lobbies watching US President Donald Trump’s inaugural address and ended with delegates watching Trump address the annual forum on a massive screen inside the Congress Center Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang said that China does not seek to run a trade surplus with the world (although no one asked him why BlackRock CEO Larry Fink said it’s possible there will be enormous growth in the United States (but warned about the risk of reigniting inflation).  The message was clear—everyone wants to find a way to work with the United States They have good reason: there is no alternative The United States is one of the strongest advanced economies in the world and Trump returns to office with economic tailwinds at his back Look at how the United States stacks up to its peers the United States comprised 50 percent of the Group of Seven’s (G7’s) gross domestic product (GDP) extended his own version of an olive branch Tariffs were hardly featured in his inaugural address on Monday and China with tariffs—including by complaining how unfairly Europe treats the United States in his virtual speech on Thursday But delegates took it in stride and privately said the fact that he didn’t come up with new tariffs on day one was a sign of moderation when Trump mentioned a 10 percent tariff on China instead of the 60 percent campaign promise he sent markets into a state of mini-jubilation But the good feelings weren’t only limited to Wall Street Silicon Valley might have been the biggest winner of the week—both in DC and Davos During Monday’s inauguration, Trump was surrounded by several CEOs of the so-called “Magnificent Seven”—including Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg And it was those companies—and the artificial intelligence (AI) platforms they are pouring investment into—which dominated the debate in Davos From the stage of the Congress Center to the storefronts on the promenade that these companies took over the financial optimism was dwarfed by techno-optimism the voices of concern could be heard as well Some of the challenges discussed included issues of trust and whether this new technology would help the lives of those who need it the most the question is whether this optimism can hold Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called out European leaders directly in his speech and he said that if Europe does not step up on defense then it will become increasingly irrelevant It was a stark reminder of the war that still raged less than a thousand miles to the east political dysfunction in Germany and France loomed like a storm cloud rolling into the valley And while leaders took heart in Trump’s mild step down on tariffs Nearly every business we spoke with privately said they are preparing for worst-case trade scenarios The last time Trump spoke at Davos was in January 2020. He predicted, as did nearly everyone else that week, that the virus that had started in Wuhan and was spreading in China would not be a major problem and was “totally under control.” It’s a reminder of just how quickly the world can change.  Josh Lipsky is the senior director of the Atlantic Council’s GeoEconomics Center and a former adviser to the International Monetary Fund. Ananya Kumar is the deputy director for future of money at the GeoEconomics Center. Research and data visualizations provided by Jessie Yin. Image: US President Donald Trump makes a special address remotely during the 55th annual World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in Davos, Switzerland, January 23, 2025. REUTERS/Yves Herman Sign up to receive expert analysis from our community on the most important global issues, rapid insights on events as they unfold, and highlights of the Council's best work. © 2025 Atlantic CouncilAll rights reserved. If refreshing the page doesn't resolve the issue you could try clearing the sites browser cache. Also: Today in Trump, the president’s administration starts to take shape. nobody’s panicking and hype has been replaced by a conversation about getting “ROI” on large language models But if business leaders think it’s time to put the shock and awe of the “ChatGPT moment” behind them and get back to everyday business The world’s most valuable companies — which have the best window into AI capabilities — are about to spend hundreds of billions of dollars this year on new AI compute clusters that are going to require a rethinking of the entire US energy grid This will make the cost of software creation negligible If you thought software was “eating the world,” think again We are about to enter an era where everything that can possibly be automated with software will be automated “Davos Man” may not be freaking out enough That may be because global corporations know they will adapt, and poorer countries — also reasonably represented here at the WEF — see a chance to leapfrog older technology and improve living conditions, as happened during Web 2.0. Davos’ blindspot, as a wave of global elections have shown, is the middle class of developed countries, whose labor markets will be most dramatically changed by AI. The change may happen slowly. That would be bad for climate change, medicine, and other areas in which AI could benefit the world, but a good thing for labor. If it happens fast, Donald Trump’s inauguration will look like a quaint neoliberal ceremony. 11.30 a.m.: Special address by António Guterres, Secretary-General of the UN @ Davos-Klosters 1.30 p.m.: A conversation with Javad Zarif, Vice President for Strategic Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran @ Davos-Klosters 4.20 p.m.: Powering AI for the year ahead with Larry Fink, chairman and CEO of BlackRock, and Peng Xiao, group CEO of G42 @ Bloomberg House 5.15 p.m.: The state of climate and nature with former US Vice President Al Gore, Muhammad Yunus, chief adviser to the Bangladeshi government, Andrew Forrest, executive chairman and founder of Fortescue, and Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez @ Davos-Klosters 5.30 p.m.: AI: Lifting All Boats with Brad Smith, vice chair and president of Microsoft, Kristalina Georgieva, managing director of the International Monetary Fund, and Bill Thomas, global chairman and CEO of KPMG @ Davos-Klosters 7 p.m.: JPMorgan Chase cocktail reception, courtesy of Jamie Dimon @ the Kirchner Museum 9 p.m.: Wyclef Jean and Aloe Blacc perform at the Forbes and Global Citizen concert @ The Dome 10 p.m.: Financial Times and CNBC annual nightcap @ Grandhotel Belvédère “Not here to talk about that,” said one prominent American politico-business figure, when asked about cryptocurrencies $TRUMP and $MELANIA, whose recent launches may help transform the Trumps into one of the world’s richest families. The blast of wealth and power out of Washington has been met with a blend of actual and forced optimism from business leaders who face risks and opportunities. “Trump is right on this: If you don’t have an industrial base, you don’t have an economy. His priority is the US economy, and he has an aggressive agenda. The world should be rooting for the US economy,” said Mark Costa, CEO of Eastman Chemical. Trump’s former aide Anthony Scaramucci was a rare discordant voice, saying he was shocked both by the “corruption” of the new administration — and by US Democrats’ hesitation in denouncing it. Navigating Trump: “You have to find the issues that Trump will support,” Marc Benioff tells The New York Times for a gloomy piece about the climate future War room: JPMorgan analysts worked through the night to assess Trump’s early policy impact: “The last 24 hours are showing that there’s going to be a lot of changes that we all have to digest,” JPMorgan Chase head of asset and wealth management Mary Callahan Erdoes told a WEF panel Euro angst: “The world is full of uncertainty — after yesterday even more, and maybe tomorrow there might be even more uncertainty,” said Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo Ukraine’s pitch: We’ve heard various versions of this line, via Euronews: “Ukraine should sell itself to Mr Trump Ukraine is the next ‘big thing’ for the Western world.” View from India: The stars of Davos, Trump and Milei, are talking about deregulation — raising questions of whether their ally Modi will follow, Bloomberg notes Is Davos fading: Feels a bit thin on the ground, no? One Davos regular told the FT he was not attending this year because it was “too expensive given the value proposition” and “less and less relevant.” Beginning of the end: Business Insider claims that “shrinkflation has come for the Davos freebies,” citing smaller hats. scalable interventions — The Next 3 Billion at Davos will discuss emphasizing collaboration between public and private sectors to mobilize resources and technology for global good Semafor’s Yinka Adegoke will moderate a conversation with Phuti Mahanyele-Dabengwa Junior Achievement Africa to discuss digital upskilling and inclusion Jan. 23, 2025 | Davos, Switzerland | Request Invitation — Stephan Maag, a pastor and sheep farmer who was dragging a giant wooden cross down the Promenade. In an exclusive interview with Semafor, Wang said he was motivated to make his recommendations by the new White House “This incoming administration wants to move fast and take a lot of action and really be quite ambitious about a lot of these issues.” For more on the intersection of technology and politics, subscribe to Semafor’s Tech newsletter. → Sign up for Semafor Davos and Semafor Business Programs & SolutionsCorporate Governance ProgramWomen on BoardsNavigating your path to boardroom success Online EventMBA panelAlumni insights – post-graduate update Online Leadership ProgramChange ManagementMaster the art and science of leading change RankingsIMD World Competitiveness RankingDiscover the 2024 edition With extensive coverage of 67 global economies AlumniIMD Alumni AssociationThe IMD Alumni Association is the official home to a global network of extraordinary leaders who share ideas and shape the future for a more sustainable 6 hours ago • by Anna Cajot in Competitiveness Global leaders descended on Davos for the 55th annual World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting to gauge the mood and tap into the trends driving business in 2025 Convening under the theme of “Collaboration for an Intelligent Age” the discussions centered on how to join forces to accelerate the energy transition and increase global cooperation to promote public health Many of the conversations in the Swiss town this year have been shaped by events on the other side of the Atlantic where US President Donald Trump returned to office for a second term Here are eight takeaways from IMD faculty and experts: IMD President and Nestlé Professor of Strategy and Political Economy and I understand why it has become a must-do for so many leaders and media representatives from around the world is unique That is why I am so excited that 12 different IMD faculty and thought leaders got to share their expertise at Davos thus delivering on our mantra to “impact the impactful” My biggest takeaway is that global leaders seem to be able to compartmentalize – 20% of their attention was squarely focused on Trump’s return to the White House while 80% remained dedicated to solving global challenges from bolstering economic growth to advancing the energy transition to adapting to a world of ubiquitous and ever-more powerful AI It’s not like these two domains were entirely separate – of course there was discussion on Trump’s impact on global trade or energy markets – but leaders weren’t ready to jettison their joint efforts just because of the new occupant in the White House One hypothesis I carry with me is that when it comes to sustainability CEOs faced incentives to make bold climate or DEI commitments That means the focus ought to return to the business case for promoting affordable clean energy and more diverse and inclusive teams and organizations I’ll be following developments closely to see whether my optimism is justified Many Davos attendees carefully parsed the President’s speech The reaction of many non-American executives and analysts was to remain calm and attentive but not dismissive In a world economy with multiple growth poles the reality is that the US economy is not the only commercial game in town If there was gloom at this year’s Davos it was over European competitiveness – but even there optimists referred to “peak pessimism” I wasn’t sure if the widely reported optimism of US executives about Trump’s deregulation and tax plans was not relief that the legal onslaught from Joe Biden’s regulators was over We may have underestimated how many US executives were torn between the last President’s social and economic agendas Your business playbook for a shifting political landscape Professor of Digital Strategy and Cybersecurity Artificial intelligence remained one of the headline themes with business leaders talking up the technology and acknowledging that it is becoming a strategic priority for many organizations although maturity and adoption across sectors vary Panels were devoted to the broader workforce implications and the demands the technology’s voracious energy appetite will place on infrastructure Awareness is undoubtedly growing on the need for vast investments in data and energy infrastructure to power this technology over the coming decades autonomous agents are capable of independently performing tasks solutions for addressing some of the issues such as energy consumption and responsible AI companies must be mindful of the growing cybersecurity risks where bad actors hack into your data to nudge the AI in a certain direction The impact of AI on skill development was also a theme with panels devoted to how to thrive in the age of AI and the need to redefine metrics to measure softer skills like empathy While many cybersecurity trends highlighted in the WEF’s 2025 Global Cybersecurity Report aren’t new what struck me following closed-door discussions at Davos is that many organizations are grappling with increasing complexity in the cybersecurity landscape we’re witnessing a layered accumulation of systems built upon systems This intricate web – a “spaghetti of systems” – makes it increasingly difficult to identify vulnerable attack points or trace the source and path of security breaches The challenge intensifies with growing ecosystem complexity as companies forge more partnerships and integrate into platforms Recent breaches demonstrate how threat actors exploit these interconnections to cascade through organizations The 2020 SolarWinds hack is a stark example: a breach in cloud-based services triggered thousands of secondary breaches across connected organizations including Fortune 500 firms and US government agencies here are two critical steps to build organizational resilience in 2025: Professor of Finance and Director of the IMD World Competitiveness Center one overriding message of the panels I attended in Davos this year was: “We need more action and less talk.” Overall there was too much talking about sustainability and too little recognition of the fundamental changes we have seen in 2024 and knowledge to help corporate and political leaders design a new economic system where social and economic objectives might all be fulfilled feeding our children and guaranteeing our pensions remains the priority sustainability is merely another term for “long-term investment” Here are my key takeaways from the discussions I had on competitiveness: Professor of Sustainable Innovation and Business Transformation Professor of Strategy and Lundin Chair Professor of Sustainability Despite strong political headwinds from across the Atlantic there was broad consensus among executives and leaders in Davos that the sustainability train has left the station and cannot be stopped the former US Vice President and maker of the documentary urging the audience not to despair and reminding us that the science and the economics of sustainability will compel us to accelerate our efforts on the energy transition regardless of policy changes in Washington Some 87% of new electricity generation installed globally was renewables Chair of the International Sustainability Standard Board (ISSB) shared how 30 countries (representing two-thirds of GDP) have already adopted the new sustainability standards marking an important step forward for a shared language and global accountability for sustainability disclosure IKEA CEO Jesper Brodin said climate smart was resources smart and business smart – a view echoed by many other CEOs in the corridors of this year’s WEF Panel discussions on moving beyond GDP as a measure of prosperity underscored the power of business As the saying by management guru Peter Drucker goes: “What gets measured gets done.” There was a strong desire among participants in sessions at the SDG Tent to redefine value to account for the positive and negative impacts of our actions New measures should be made simple enough that all companies will want to participate Building on existing frameworks was also seen as more desirable than reinventing the wheel because we are running short of time “The antidote to climate despair is action,” said Al Gore We leave Davos inspired by a movement that is going in the right direction and energized to put forward positive narratives toward our collective Professor of Social Entrepreneurship and Coca-Cola Foundation Chair in Sustainable Development Professor of Leadership and Organizational Behavior the topic of inclusion was pushed down the WEF agenda this year there was hope and optimism that DEI would remain an important part of doing good business and attracting talent “Unless you have visible female leadership in a company it’s quite difficult to attract women into that company,” Katie Jackson Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala also gave us a timely reminder to remain hopeful for the future and resist a state of panic since that would not put her in the right mindset for critical problem-solving will lead to higher demand for “durable skills” (not soft skills!) such as empathy and caring – more traditionally associated with women’s leadership that AI would make humans more deeply human – freeing up time and space for us to reflect The most transformative discussions on inclusion occurred beyond the main congress hall particularly in dedicated spaces like the World Woman Davos Agenda and The Female Quotient Equality Lounge While DEI remains fundamental to business strategy the conversation has evolved toward measurable impact Our IMD, Microsoft, and EqualVoice whitepaper revealed a critical gap: only 5% of leaders can confidently identify AI bias This underscores the importance of having a responsible AI agenda that as Dr Annabella Bassler of Ringier and EqualVoice The Female Quotient panel I moderated surfaced innovative approaches to measuring leadership effectiveness ETS research highlighted women’s demand for certification of traditionally unmeasured skills while EY’s Vitality Index pioneers team wellness metrics WorkHuman’s insights reinforced that psychological safety directly correlates with team performance and productivity President of IMD and Nestlé Professor of Strategy and Political Economy David Bach is President of IMD and Nestlé Professor of Strategy and Political Economy He assumed the Presidency of IMD on 1 September 2024 He is working to broaden and deepen IMD’s global impact through learning innovation excellence in degree- and executive programs Recognized globally as an innovator in management education Bach previously served as IMD’s Dean of Innovation and Programs Professor of Geopolitics and Strategy at IMD Simon J. Evenett is Professor of Geopolitics and Strategy at IMD and a leading expert on trade he has advised executives and guided students in navigating significant shifts in the global economy he was appointed Co-Chair of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Trade and Investment Evenett founded the St Gallen Endowment for Prosperity Through Trade which oversees key initiatives like the Global Trade Alert and Digital Policy Alert He has held academic positions at the University of St Professor of Digital Strategy and Cybersecurity at IMD Öykü Işık is Professor of Digital Strategy and Cybersecurity at IMD, where she leads the Cybersecurity Risk and Strategy program and co-directs the Generative AI for Business Sprint She is an expert on digital resilience and the ways in which disruptive technologies challenge our society and organizations Named on the Thinkers50 Radar 2022 list of up-and-coming global thought leaders she helps businesses to tackle cybersecurity and enables CEOs and other executives to understand these issues Professor of Sustainable innovation and Business Transformation at IMD crafting transformative learning journeys for clients globally Lundin Chair Professor of Sustainability at IMD His research interests are related to strategy and organizations to change the system and to create and share new solutions for positive societal change Social psychologist and Professor of Leadership and Organizational Behaviour at IMD Sarah Toms is Chief Innovation Officer at IMD. She leads information technology, learning innovation, Strategic Talent Solutions, and the AI Strategy A demonstrated thought leader in education innovation Sarah is passionate about amplifying IMD’s mission to drive positive impact for individuals Her other great passion is supporting organizations who work to attract and promote women and girls into STEM the Digital Book Awards 2019 Best Business Book Natalia is the Chief Sustainability Officer at IMD. She designs and implements sustainability strategy, develops executive education programs and advisory, publishes research, builds cross-sector partnerships, and communicates IMD’s ambitions and progress. The Center for Sustainable and Inclusive Business aims to support leaders and companies to take steps towards a more sustainable and inclusive business world by harnessing IMD’s knowledge and expertise in this field and offering tools to help them deliver systemic 22 April 2025 • by D W Pine in 2025 Trends Responsible for TIME magazine’s iconic covers D W Pine explores his creative process and shares insights on how to cut through the noise and make an impact... 7 February 2025 • by Carlos Cordon in 2025 Trends so supply chain leaders must be prepared to work with what he gives them .. 3 February 2025 • by Natalia Olynec in 2025 Trends Warnings about alcohol’s harms by medical experts are nothing new But the drinks industry is now taking sobriety seriously by investing in a growing range of alternative products Thinking about a career change? Keen to move industry or transition into a new role? IMD professors share the best advice they have received or gleaned over their careers. ... InstagramYouTube iconYouTubeFacebook iconFacebookTwitter iconTwitterI by IMD is produced by the Institute for Management Development Explore first person business intelligence from top minds curated for a global executive audience Search terms must include 3 or more characters Official accredited event in the Ice Village Global economies now stand on the threshold of an AI powered renaissance that represents our generation’s most transformative economic opportunity promising trillions of dollars of GDP growth by 2030 This economic transformation requires vast scale of investment into critical new national infrastructure: expanded capacity of energy grids and the responsible development of AI models How can governments and industry work together to build this new infrastructure in a way that is inclusive hosted by KPMG in collaboration with Microsoft and the AI Governance Alliance will discuss the critical decision points that every Government business and non-profit should be thinking about today in order to build the foundations of the new economies of intelligence together technology is not just reshaping industries This panel explores the intersection of digital transformation workforce adaptation and multi-stakeholder collaboration governments and other key players can harness the digital dividend to create a more efficient This 60-minute insight call will bring together KPMG global leaders and WEF delegates to give you live access to the latest insights and client-impacting news direct from Davos Driving true collaboration in the intelligent age means championing allyship between genders and utilising the power of AI and new technologies to drive a more inclusive agenda whilst the gender gap is slowly narrowing in the tech industry How can we drive AI in a way that results in better outcomes for women and men This invitation-only event brings together an exclusive group of leaders for an interactive panel session and networking event Hear practical examples of how leaders are tackling the tech gender gap to drive female progression and more inclusive AI ​ Congress Centre - This event will be livestreamed access to resilient digital infrastructure advanced computer capabilities and strong public-private investment are essential What strategies can bridge this growing AI divide and ensure more equitable access to AI benefits globally Invitation-only lunch for UK and international business leaders with UK Ministers KPMG refers to the global organization or to one or more of the member firms of KPMG International Limited (“KPMG International”), each of which is a separate legal entity. KPMG International Limited is a private English company limited by guarantee and does not provide services to clients. For more detail about our structure please visit https://kpmg.com/governance Member firms of the KPMG network of independent firms are affiliated with KPMG International KPMG International provides no client services No member firm has any authority to obligate or bind KPMG International or any other member firm vis-à-vis third parties nor does KPMG International have any such authority to obligate or bind any member firm “us” and “our” refers to the KPMG global organization to KPMG International Limited (“KPMG International”) and/or to one or more of the member firms of KPMG International Leaders from around the globe will convene under the theme “Collaboration for the Intelligent Age” at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos McKinsey’s priority themes for this year include AI transformation Every year McKinsey Global Publishing’s Raju Narisetti an alumnus of the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders (YGLs)—a group that includes professionals in business and not-for-profit organizations from around the world—has asked a wide range of YGLs about the one topic they think deserves more attention in Davos than it will likely receive 22 YGLs highlighted topics from the gender gap and women’s health to the importance of humanitarian law The European Research Council (ERC) will bring the science perspective to the discussions at the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting in Davos ERC President Maria Leptin will speak in two live-streamed WEF sessions on the outlook for AI and science together with Max Tegmark and on the interplay between research security and openness The theme of this year’s edition of WEF is 'Collaboration for the Intelligent Age' ERC President - Maria Leptin will take part in the following live-streamed WEF sessions: 23 January 9.00 - 9.45 | 'The Purpose of Science'with Maria Leptin From the development of Global Positioning System (GPS) technology to life-saving vaccines the history of innovation shows that fundamental science plays a critical role.With AI tools rapidly transforming data-driven science and industry research funding outpacing academic spending what is the outlook for fresh directions in scientific explorations?  24 January 9.00 - 9.45 | 'Free Science at Risk?'  Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory; Jonathan Brennan-Badal In today's polarized geopolitical landscape balancing security concerns with the need for collaborative innovation is growing more complex while the lack of policies that protect intellectual property and international security is increasingly clear governments and institutions foster safe yet open research environments essential for scientific advancement ERC session hosted at the Belgium House in Davos:  23 January 11.15 – 12.15 | 'Shaping Tomorrow: Boosting European Competitiveness Through Pioneering Science and Innovation' Europe 'must genuinely fear for our self-preservation,' according to the former ECB President Mario Draghi's recent report 'The Future of European Competitiveness.' The European economy requires urgent action to tackle the increasing gap with the US and China in terms of economic growth How can the right investment in cutting-edge science and innovation boost European competitiveness and spark new ideas to unlock Europe's full potential for growth and prosperity In this session with the European Research Council prominent voices from the European political arena and industry as well as two Nobel laureates will discuss possible strategies to address this Enquiries Belgium House In Davos 2025 Programme EnglishEspañol Davos will be held in Switzerland from January 20th - 24th with the theme ‘Collaboration for the Intelligent Age’. The event organized by the World Economic Forum will bring together governments international organizations and around 1,000 companies Davos 2025 is taking place in a global context marked by geopolitical and economic uncertainties cultural polarization and the climate crisis it is also an opportunity to reflect on the positive impact of technologies like artificial intelligence which promise to boost productivity and improve the quality of life worldwide The theme this year is inspired by World Economic Forum founder He argues that the converging technologies are reshaping the world at an unprecedented pace who will step down from his position as Executive Chairman in January 2025 and be replaced by the second-in-command at the organization explained that: “it is an era that goes far beyond technology alone one that has the power to elevate humanity – or indeed to fracture it this annual forum has served as a global platform where company leaders civil society and academia come together to discuss critical issues the organizers have posed several questions: “What are the biggest questions for leaders as they grapple with collaboration in an age of converging technologies and hyper intelligence How can we avoid fragmentation and build a smarter future How can innovation tackle crises like climate change and the misuse of technology Will collective action and responsible leadership foster equality sustainability and collaboration rather than deepen existing divides the forum has been organized into five areas: Around 2,500 people from over 125 countries will participate in the more than 300 sessions that will be held at the 55th edition of Davos Participants include heads of state and government leaders international media outlets and youth leaders from Africa Several government presidents have confirmed their attendance as well as the Minister of the Economy and Trade Carlos Cuerpo; and Javier Milei of Argentina Representatives of the top Spanish companies will also attend BBVA will be represented by Chair Carlos Torres Vila and CEO Onur Genç The Forum is traditionally held in Davos, the highest town in Europe (1,560 meters). Surrounded by mountains, it houses the largest ski station in Switzerland. However, Davos is not famous for its snow but for hosting the World Economic Forum (WEF) This annual meeting is attended by political cultural and media leaders who wish to take part in the international agenda Davos was established in 1971 in Geneva (Switzerland) as an "independent, impartial and not tied to special interests” non-profit organization. Its founder is Klaus M. Schwab who initially invited 444 executives from European companies to a meeting on corporate governance in the convention center of Davos His idea was to introduce the American business management approach to European firms He never imagined that that meeting would lead to the unparalleled international summit that it is today Thousands of ideas come out of the Davos Forum but some have come far: the North American Free Trade Agreement was first proposed at an informal meeting in Davos 2020 saw the launch of a new 'Davos Manifiesto' with the single objective of building a more sustainable The forum held four years ago was the most sustainable annual summit held to date It received IS0 20121 certification for sustainable events and will be totally carbon neutral This accomplishment was possible thanks to policies aimed at using locally-sourced food suppliers introducing alternative sources of protein to reduce meat consumption reducing or eliminating the use of materials that cannot be recycled or easily re-used and increasing the availability of electric vehicles The public sessions of Davos will be broadcast live at the Davos Open Forum will also bring together those around the world interested in immersive interviews and discussions will also be shared on its social networks To stay informed about the most important conversions follow the Forum’s official accounts on platforms like: The official hashtag for the event is #wef25 over 200 sessions will be broadcast live on the official site of the World Economic Forum Argentina Colombia Switzerland Belgium Mexico United Kingdom Uruguay Peru Venezuela your new go-to podcast to spice up your weekday mornings with relevant news and behind-the-scenes from Brussels and beyond From the economy to the climate and the EU's role in world affairs this talk show sheds light on European affairs and the issues that impact on our daily lives as Europeans Tune in to understand the ins and outs of European politics Dare to imagine the future with business and tech visionaries Deep dive conversations with business leaders Euronews Tech Talks goes beyond discussions to explore the impact of new technologies on our lives the podcast provides valuable insights into the intersection of technology and society Europe's water is under increasing pressure floods are taking their toll on our drinking water Join us on a journey around Europe to see why protecting ecosystems matters and to discover some of the best water solutions an animated explainer series and live debate - find out why Water Matters We give you the latest climate facts from the world’s leading source analyse the trends and explain how our planet is changing We meet the experts on the front line of climate change who explore new strategies to mitigate and adapt Davos is unremarkable other than being a popular ski resort high in the Swiss Alps it becomes the focus of the world’s attention as the global elites converge on the small alpine town for the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) To discuss the future direction of life on our planet and the pressing issues of the day what actually happens in Davos and why does it matter WEF was founded back in 1971 by Klaus Schwab in a bid to foster global cooperation on political The aim of the international not-for-profit organisation was to bring together the public and private sectors to brainstorm solutions to these global problems something which remains one of its founding principles and speaks to its mission statement: "Committed to improving the state of the world" The first meeting of WEF five decades ago was held in Davos and has been the centre of its annual gathering every year since with the resort’s name even becoming the common shorthand for the event but the one thing that unites them all is that they have been previous attendees in Davos One of the most unique things about Davos is those who attend While it is often criticised as a talking shop for the world’s privileged 1 per cent it is also where people come to try to lobby and influence these powerful elites in order to affect change on a global scale you can expect in attendance world leaders - usually the sitting US president and so on - but also business leaders and entrepreneurs activists of all creeds - even the occasional celebrity And they’re all extraordinarily in one place which means unprecedented access for many attendees to global decision-makers The official guest list is often very exclusive and is made up of around 2,000 to 3,000 participants and speakers but the meeting itself attracts thousands more to its fringe events It is also where companies - and even countries and regions - set up their stalls to sell concepts and services are what have become known as "houses" where companies can rent space (often retail outlets which are let out for the week) to set up embassies or outposts to welcome visitors Beyond the keynote speeches and panels at the Congress Centre this in itself has been a prominent hallmark of the annual event One of the founding principles of WEF was to be impartial Given the juxtaposition of competing agendas and the overlapping of the political and corporate spheres WEF is often in the firing line of antagonists who argue it is a malignant force in the world New York Times economics correspondent Peter Goodman highlighted in his book 'Davos Man’ the contradiction of asking billionaires and elites critics accuse of causing the world’s biggest problems to find ways to solve them One of the principal critiques levelled at the event organisers every year is the hypocrisy of having the climate crisis on the meeting's agenda while one in 10 participants in 2022 travelled by private jet to get there A talking shop for the world’s rich and powerful it may be but Davos is an unparalleled forum for discussion and debate on a global scale and does have some significant achievements to its record over its 50-year history was credited with helping Turkey and Greece step back from the brink of an armed conflict Nelson Mandela and then South African president FW de Klerk made their first joint appearance together on the international stage at Davos arguably a significant step towards ending apartheid The pair won the Nobel Peace Prize the following year the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (Gavi) was launched at Davos and has since improved access to vaccines for millions it has contributed to the vaccination of 760 million children worldwide