Climate and nature action – together in partnership for a better future

Spring is a time of fresh beginnings. It is noteworthy that for the first time in the 50-year history of the World Economic Forum, and after a two-year hiatus, the Annual Meeting in Davos is being held in spring – one of the most beautiful seasons in Switzerland, when flowers are in full bloom and nature, comes alive.

As leaders gather in person to discuss challenges of climate action, energy transition, food affordability, healthcare access and jobs, this Annual Meeting will also be an opportunity to foster a sense of camaraderie, collective purpose and common destiny.

The climate crisis is at our doorstep. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has just published its ‘State of the Global Climate 2021’ report noting that the probability of temporarily exceeding 1.5ºC above the pre-industrial era is now 50% over the next five years. Average global temperatures in 2021 were already about 1.11 ºC above the pre-industrial levels, so we are very close to the tipping point of 1.5ºC.

We face dire consequences if we do not reverse this trajectory. Beyond 1.5ºC, 70-90% of coral reefs worldwide will be irreversibly damaged, and there will be a significantly increased frequency of extreme weather events. As I write this, we are experiencing record high temperatures in India and Pakistan, drought conditions in the western parts of the US and France, to name just a few.

Each one of us, regardless of background, geography, income, race or creed, will be impacted by the climate crisis. No-one will be able to escape by retreating into isolation and protectionism.

We are much more connected and interdependent than we realize, sharing our global commons of biodiversity, climate, land, ocean and water. Like it or not, we are bound together in building and protecting the future of our world.

The Nature and Climate leadership agenda in Davos is thus focused on stewardship and partnership:

This year’s Annual Meeting will have more than 100 sessions, convened by the Forum and our affiliates, across the themes of:

The transition pathways towards environmental sustainability will not be easy. Neither is there only one way forward to deal with the climate crisis. Industries, businesses and governments will have to design and navigate their respective paths, leveraging their strengths and capabilities, and taking into account the context and circumstances of their operating environment.

Indeed, top of mind for many of the leaders gathered in Davos this week will be how to deal with the immediate issues of energy and food security, while pushing forward to realize the common vision of clean air and water, rich soils and biodiversity, cool earth and supporting thriving, cohesive and inclusive communities.

As we look for new opportunities and partnerships to progress the climate and nature agenda, the Annual Meeting will continue to drive impact through existing programmes that have been initiated with partner governments and international organizations, corporates and other stakeholders.

These include the First Movers’ Coalition and Mission Possible Partnership to support industry decarbonization and drive demand for new technologies and investment in innovation; the Tropical Forest Alliance and Trillion Trees Initiative to prevent deforestation and scale land restoration, tree growing and forest conservation efforts; and the 100 Million Farmers and Food Innovation Hubs to support farmers and communities in the transition of food systems to be more sustainable, more inclusive and affordable and more nutritious.

There is also the Blue Food and Blue Carbon Action Partnerships and Global Water Initiative to inform policy and business strategy anchored on science and knowledge, as well as Global Plastic Action Partnership that catalyses local stakeholder partnerships to reduce plastic waste and pollution and develop new market mechanisms, such as Sustainable Finance and Carbon Markets.

This is an important moment in history – an open invitation for all of us to expand our realms of knowledge and creativity, and for human enterprise and exchange to respond swiftly and effectively. The Forum welcomes and is ready to support bold ideas and initiatives, action-oriented alliances and partnerships, to foster trust and build bridges to contribute to a better world.

Through the interactions and discussions, we hope to provoke transformative thinking and radical action. We will call on leaders to lead disruptions and systems change and to respond to the crisis in good time, with speed and scale, at the lowest possible costs. I wish everyone fruitful discussions and a successful meeting.