Agenda

The stories shaping the Global, Regional and Industry agendas

Global Agenda

Why city residents should have a say in what their cities look like

Long viewed as a hindrance to planning public works, old-fashioned public consultation can provide insights just as valuable as anything big data can offer.

Michael S. Burke 16 Jan 2019

Biotechnology

Who holds the key to the future of biotechnology? You do

Your data is key to all developments in biotech. But first we need to find a way of using it that is both progressive and ethical.

Elizabeth O’Day and Sang Yup Lee 16 Jan 2019

Sustainable Development

How the digital finance revolution can drive sustainable development

Harnessed correctly, the world's fast-moving digital finance revolution might just help us meet the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals.

Maria Ramos and Achim Steiner 16 Jan 2019

Climate Change

Why a healthy planet and a healthy economy go hand-in-hand

It's time to banish the myth that saving the planet will hurt economic growth. In fact, the latter depends on the former - and if we do not head off the crisis facing our planet, we will have bigger things to worry about than economic growth.

Cristiana Pasca Palmer 16 Jan 2019

Education and Skills

5 ways students can graduate fully qualified for the Fourth Industrial Revolution

Education must become less rigid and link up more with employers if the future generation of students – and the world economy – are to benefit.

Megan Doepker 16 Jan 2019

Workforce and Employment

6 steps to ensuring your company has a glow of well-being

A majority of employees in most parts of the world don't take their company's well-being schemes seriously – a sign that employers need to do more.

Cara McNulty 16 Jan 2019

Climate Change

These are the biggest risks facing our world in 2019

From extreme weather to biodiversity loss, this year's Global Risks Report paints a clear picture of environmental concern.

Joe Myers and Kate Whiting 16 Jan 2019

India

We need to talk about failure in the social sector

If innovation is essential to the achievements of the sector, we should spend less time on success, and more on failure

Kyle Zimmer and Rohini Nilekani 16 Jan 2019

Geopolitics

A multipolar world brings back the national champions

Strong national consumer brands stand to benefit from greater demand from domestic consumers

Nannette Hechler Fayd’herbe 16 Jan 2019

Regional Agenda

Climate Change

On climate action, Europe must learn from its digital mistakes

When digitalization began to gather pace two decades ago, the political narrative in Europe too often cast it as a threat to jobs - and now Europe lags behind. We must not make the same m...

Werner Hoyer 15 Jan 2019

Arctic

The shrinking Arctic ice protects us all. It’s time to act

Arctic old ice - the ice that stays throughout the summer - is shrinking rapidly. It plays a vital role in regulating the planet's climate, and its loss would be catastrophic. It's time t...

Julienne Stroeve, Gail Whiteman, and Jeremy Wilkinson 09 Jan 2019

Education, Gender and Work

How play can help Africa’s kids develop skills for the future

From creativity to collaboration, the skills that students learn through play can help them thrive in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

John Goodwin 08 Jan 2019

Justice and Legal Infrastructure

What’s behind South Korea’s elderly crime wave?

Serious crime among people over the age of 65 is on the rise in South Korea, as seniors grapple with isolation, poverty and mental health issues.

Rosamond Hutt 04 Jan 2019

Environment and Natural Resource Security

China generates more waste than any other country. How does it deal with it?

China is perfectly placed to innovate digital solutions for waste, especially in its fast-growing food industry.

Angela Chen 13 Dec 2018

Climate Change

We can’t rid Asia of natural disasters. But we can prepare for them

Projects that empower local communities to take charge will boost disaster resilience across the region.

Nathanial Matthews and Deon Nel 11 Dec 2018

China

The geopolitical impact of China’s approach to fighting climate change

China has been championing the concept of 'ecological civilization', which aims to achieve harmony between people and nature. But what does this mean for the rest of the world?

James Pennington and Ariel Kastner 07 Dec 2018

Future of Mobility

China greenlights first underwater high-speed railway

China's high-speed rail network is the largest in the world, and it's about to expand under the sea.

John McKenna 06 Dec 2018

Fourth Industrial Revolution

MI6 chief calls for espionage 4.0 in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution

From terrorists to hacktivists, all the way up to state-orchestrated cyber-warfare, staying alert in the new threat landscape calls for new skills and capabilities.

Sean Fleming 06 Dec 2018

Industry Agenda

Future of Energy

A low-carbon energy world is dawning – but we must move even faster

After years of talking about it, the transition to a low-carbon energy system is finally happening. Here are some reasons for optimism - and a guide to those areas where we still have muc...

Christina Lampe-Onnerud and Jules Kortenhorst 16 Jan 2019

Environment and Natural Resource Security

CO2 can be a valuable raw material, not just a climate killer. Here’s how

What if we used CO2, instead of continuing to try and contain it on a massive scale? Industry would need fewer raw materials from fossil sources such as petroleum, growing the circular ec...

Markus Steilemann 16 Jan 2019

Infrastructure

Infrastructure around the world is failing. Here’s how to make it more resilient

Underfunding of critical infrastructure worldwide is hampering economic progress, and exposing businesses and communities to significant risks. Stronger public-private partnerships, proje...

John P. Drzik 16 Jan 2019

Global Risks

We could be sleepwalking into a new crisis. How should the business world prepare?

Geopolitical tensions, cyber crime and the environment: these are among the biggest global risks facing us in 2019. What should businesses do to prepare?

Alison Martin 16 Jan 2019

Circular Economy

Why sustainable packaging is good for profits as well as the planet

Only 14% of plastic packaging is recycled globally. Circular packaging solutions are a priority - and they will create value for brands, as these trailblazing examples demonstrate.

Peter Lacy and Wesley Spindler 15 Jan 2019

Climate Change

Air conditioning is threatening our ability to tackle climate change. Here's what we need to do

Air conditioning is everywhere - and it is consuming vast amounts of energy. But don't despair - with the right innovations, we can find ways to stay cool in a rapidly warming world.

Rushad Nanavatty 10 Jan 2019

Oceans

We must stop choking the ocean with plastic waste. Here’s how

The growing problem of plastic waste in the ocean is hurting marine life and livelihoods around the world - and it's going to take a new, global, circular economy-based approach to solve it.

Jim Fitterling 09 Jan 2019

India

3 ways Bollywood can help shape the future of globalization

Bollywood produces between 1,500 and 2,000 films each year, and its global reach is growing - and by reflecting the concerns of modern audiences, it can play a significant role in shaping...

Mayuri Bhattacharjee 09 Jan 2019

Cybersecurity

Who should be responsible for protecting our personal data?

Consumers and enterprises, technology leaders and governments: all of them emphasize the need for global cybersecurity. But while most agree this is an urgent priority, research shows tha...

Einaras von Gravrock 08 Jan 2019