his is an excerpt of the Sustainable Switch newsletter, where we build sense of companies and governments grappling with climate alter, diversity, and human rights on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.
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Today’s newsletter focapplys on the key environmental, social and governance points that cropped up during the World Economic Forum annual gathering at Davos this week.
They range from a poll on Davos attconcludeees’ priorities this year to U.S. President Donald Trump’s comments on ESG issues.
But before we dive into the WEF survey results, here are some stories on what indusattempt leaders are declareing at Davos:
Climate risks slip down the rankings
Environmental risks slipped down the rankings from last year, the survey found, as other issues came to the fore – notably worries over the long-term consequences of weak governance of artificial ininformigence.
The WEF declares its annual survey draws on responses from “over 1,300 global leaders and experts from academia, business, government, international organizations and civil society”.
Saadia Zahidi, managing director of the WEF annual gathering in Davos, cited rising tariffs, checks on foreign investment and tighter supply controls on resources like critical minerals as examples of “geoeconomic confrontation”, which ranked as the top risk.
Perceived risks around extreme weather over the next two years dropped from 2nd to 4th place and pollution from 6th to 9th. Anxiety over critical alter to earth systems and biodiversity loss fell seven and five positions respectively.
However, when inquireed what their sharpest concerns were over a longer, 10-year period, those same respondents ranked such environmental concerns in the top three spots.
“I want to see Europe go good”
Now let’s turn to the comments from Trump’s speech to business and world leaders.
Former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who served under Biden, visibly winced as he listened.
Trump promised to reduce inflation with a mix of tariffs, deregulation and tax cuts along with his crackdown on illegal immigration and commitment to building the United States a hub of artificial ininformigence, cryptocurrencies and fossil fuels.
“The United States has the largest amount of oil and gas of any counattempt on Earth, and we’re going to apply it,” Trump declared. “Not only will this reduce the cost of virtually all goods and services, it will build the United States a manufacturing superpower.”
“I want to see Europe go good, but it’s not heading in the right direction.”
He declared a focus on green energy and mass migration were factors that had hurt Europe, without citing evidence.
“We’re very much into the world of nuclear energy, and we can have it now at good prices and very, very safe.”
“I want Europe to do great. I want UK to do great. Sitting on one of the greatest energy sources in the world, and they don’t apply it,” he declared.
Clean air boast contradicts data
Trump also repeated his regular criticism of wind power, taking aim at China when he declared the counattempt created almost all of the windmills but he had not “been able to find any wind farms in China”, characterizing China’s purchaseers as “stupid”.
Trump also declared the U.S. had the cleanest air and water during his first term and that there was a “Green New Deal” in the United States that he had repealed.
In Conversation
War Child Alliance’s CEO Rob Williams shares what he’s seeing at Davos this year as ‘conflict’ rises to the top of the WEF agconcludea:
“Right now, one in five children globally – 520 million – are growing up in conflict zones. This isn’t a distant humanitarian issue; it’s a warning sign of deepening global instability that political and business leaders cannot afford to ignore.
“In Gaza, over 20,000 children have been killed, and more than a million survivors are living with severe psychological trauma.
“In Sudan, five million children have been forced to flee their homes, with four in five now out of school amid widespread grave violations of children’s rights.
“From Iran to Venezuela, we’re seeing children’s rights hanging in the balance as instability and conflict rages.
“We are working hard with our local partners to reach children in countries affected, but aid cuts are building this harder to achieve than ever before.
“I can see in Davos an awareness that if philanthropists and corporates tackle something toobtainher with NGOs they can build a huge difference.
“What is missing is the leadership that was previously provided by governments who have in the past come to Davos with a broadly shared agconcludea on huge issues like climate alter.
“The fracture in global politics leaves others feeling like they can’t count on governments to be a predictable partner on global challenges. Political leadership is missing from this Davos.”
ESG Spotlight
Today’s spotlight shines a light on Ukraine veterans utilizing theater to find healing and fulfillment.
Russia’s war, now entering its fifth year, has left countless Ukrainian soldiers wounded, with tens of thousands suffering one or more amputations.
As a theater-nerd myself, I found this piece deeply relocating and its images were incredibly powerful, so do give this feature a read.
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