Environmentalism will dominate Davos Forum; Trump and Greta Thunberg will share platform
DAVOS, SWITZERLAND -
The leader of the World Economic Forum in Davos said it is "encouraging" that US President Donald Trump and environmental activist Greta Thunberg will participate in their annual meeting in Davos this year, noting that environmental concerns They will be a key issue.
The founder of the Forum, Klaus Schwab, said that great changes have occurred in business, society and culture since 50 years ago he created the annual meeting in the Swiss Alps, which was initially a conclave of entrepreneurs, but now brings together to politicians and activists.
After a year of unprecedented heats, wildfires out of control, and more polar defrosting, environmental issues are considered the five long-term issues that most threaten the global economy, the FME said last week, citing a survey of 750 takers of decisions.
He added that catastrophic trends such as global warming, climate change and the extinction of animal species, will be at the forefront of the issues to be addressed as of Tuesday.
The forum is reorienting its focus of recent years, of how technology is transforming lives, towards the environment and responsible business practices that promote jobs, combat climate change and serve the common good and the generation of wealth.
Attention to the environment could be an awkward issue for Trump, whose administration has supported increased use of coal-based energy, has eliminated environmental protections and has dismissed scientists' concerns about human influence on climate change. Trump also pulled the United States out of the 2015 Paris climate agreement, signed to combat global warming.
Schwab said Trump is welcome for his role on the world stage, while Thunberg will focus on the environmental issue. Both will speak at the opening session on Tuesday.
"I think both voices are necessary," Schwab said in an interview with Associated Press (AP) on Sunday: "The environment will play an important role during this meeting."
Schwab pointed to the 160 “lighthouse” FME projects on issues such as inclusiveness and equality, technology governance, regional development, business leadership and ecology, including a project to plant a trillion trees.
"If Greta is coming this year, you can see that we have made substantial progress," referring to the debut at last year's meeting of the young Swedish activist.
The prestigious American magazine Time declared Thunberg the Person of the Year for 2019. Trump unleashed an advertising storm after mocking Thunberg's selection.
But for Schwab, the emergence of young leaders is a source of pride.
"If I feel particularly proud of something during the past 50 years, it is a long time since I created the community of young leaders," said Schwab, citing the case of 10,000 "Global Trainers" in some 400 cities he said are directly involved in the ground. "We try, I think quite successfully, to integrate the new generations."
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