Davos, Europe Brief News – The annual World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in Davos is scheduled to deal with global challenges, mainly war on Ukraine.
“Davos will be different, but not mainly because of the lack of snow but because of lack of global co-operation to solve these most pressing challenges,” Børge Brende, President of the WEF, said in a pre-event briefing.
“Global challenges need global solutions, and we’re not seeing these global solutions and that’s where we have to push at Davos”.
Here’s what you can expect to be top of the agenda at this year’s WEF.
The war in Ukraine means that Davos will look a little different this year. Organisers, for instance, have chosen not to extend an invite to Russian companies or representatives in light of sanctions imposed on Vladimir Putin’s regime.
“Mr Putin started the war and he can end it,” Brende said. “By again accepting what he has accepted in the past: the territorial integrity of Ukraine”.
Russia’s absence at one of the most important and exclusive meetings of the global elite has left a noticeable vacuum that is being filled in unexpected ways.
Climate crisis worsening
The climate crisis is always one of the top talking points at the WEF and this is not set to change in 2022.
There is always significant pushback against organisers, with the fact that so many attendees arrive in Davos by way of private jet tarnishing the event’s eco-credentials.
Greenpeace and other environmental NGOs always have a presence at the event and in 2019, teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg notably held her weekly School Strike climate protest with local youth.
In the days leading up to the 2022 event, climate activists staged an anti-WEF protest on the streets of Zurich.
COVID is still a presence
For now, Europe has largely put the pandemic behind it as countries across the continent open up and ease or remove most if not all of their COVID-19 restrictions.
Here in Davos, though, coronavirus is a palpable presence. Participants, delegates and media all have to provide evidence of vaccination, a negative PCR prior to arrival and a second COVID-19 test on site. Those without this documentation are not allowed within the secure perimeter.