This year’s World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2022 came to a close. Over 2,000 leaders and academics from across the world attended the summit.
Ukraine’s situation, economy, technology, health, and food and energy crises were mostly discussed during this Annual meeting.
This was the first physical Annual Meeting since the outbreak of COVID-19, the first since the invasion of Ukraine, and the first meeting of global climate leaders since COP26.
Here are a few highlights from the event:
The war in Ukraine
In numerous meetings, we heard about the continued impacts of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba both expressed gratitude to the international community for their assistance, but both asked for more.
We also heard from members of Ukrainian society as well as the Klitschko brothers.
Ursula von der Leyen, Jens Stoltenberg, and Pedro Sánchez all expressed pleas for continuing collaboration, emphasising European solidarity.
Olaf Scholz’s message “We cannot let Russia win this war.”
On Thursday, political leaders from throughout Europe convened. “diplomatic negotiations must be sensitive, informed and unilaterally strive for peace,” Henry Kissinger stated.
H.H. Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, Amir of Qatar, also said his country was ready to help find a peaceful solution to the war.
The economy
Economics experts also discussed the global economy, with David M. Rubenstein explaining the link between recession and bananas. Concerned about recession concerns he recalled an episode from his tenure at the White House under President Carter in which inflation expert Alfred Kahn was ordered, “Don’t mention the R word.” It frightens people.” As a result, he modified the term for “banana.” Rubenstein said, “the signs are not as favourable as I would like… But a banana might not be that far.”
Debt, inflation, wages and global trade were discussed – including Israeli Isaac Herzog speaking about the trade advantages of the Abraham Accords.
Food and energy security and two crises linked to the war in Ukraine were also high on the agenda this week.
On Monday, Fatih Birol advised that this was the first really global energy crisis, and on Wednesday, Dmytro Kuleba warned that if nothing changes, we would face a multi-year food global crisis.
Climate change and the environment
John Kerry, Bill Gates, Brad Smith, Mikael Damberg, Marc Benioff, and Ruth Porat joined to launch an expansion of the First Movers Coalition, while Frans Timmerman suggested that the Mediterranean could be the centre of the world’s new energy supply, and Elizabeth Wathuti made an emotional appeal to global leaders.
The role of business and entrepreneurs
UpLink – the Forum’s open innovation platform – launched their 2021-2022 impact report, while it was also showcased the impact of the Forum’s wider work. UpLink’s Founding Partners are ;
Klaus SchwabFounder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum,
Punit Renjen Chief Executive Officer, Deloitte,
Marc Benioff Founder and Co-Chief Executive Officer, Salesforce
Pfizer committed to provide all its current and future patent-protected medicines on a not-for-profit basis to 45 lower-income countries.
COVID-19 pandemic has brought about fundamental shifts for the working lives of many, so different skills were discussed and the potential for a four-day working week, hybrid work and issues of diversity and inclusion.
Technology and the metaverse
This past week, technology was at the center of so many discussions during this event.
Whether it’s the internet becoming less “flat” or the possibility for the global south to leapfrog, various sessions were held to discuss how Metaverse applications and how it can significantly change people’s lives in the next 10 years.
