Davos 2023, choices and self-reflection
Global leaders met in Davos this week for the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum
January has been a time for clarity and reflection. We often get bogged down with the things we can not control, and because of that, I’ve taken a different perspective on life. We all have a choice to do something different, and hopefully to do something positive.
There’s way too much noise in the world, from the cost-of-living crisis, to failing governments, and to the War in Ukraine. Before this morning, I don’t recall the last time I tuned into the early morning news or watched a live news broadcast. Sadly the top headline on AP News is of a manhunt for a gunman who opened fire and killed 10 people at a Los Angeles-area ballroom dance studio.
Forming good habits can be difficult, but I’ve learned a few things about myself during 100 days of meditating. I’ve gotten into the habit of spending 10-15 minutes on myself, both at the beginning and the end of each day. Journaling and self-reflection need not be onerous. How can we improve if we do not assess our own actions?
Marcus Aurelius taught us to willingly accept what’s outside of our control. We all have the freedom to make choices, and this week global leaders chose to meet in Davos for the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF). Leaders met high in the Swiss Alps to discuss a myriad of existential issues, including trade, technology and tackling the climate crisis.
In an uncertain and challenging time, one thing is clear. We can shape a more resilient, sustainable and equitable future, but the only way to do so is together. World Economic Forum President Børge Brende
I wonder how many of those leaders at this year’s WEF will make choices for personal gain rather than for the good of humanity? The sceptical side of me believes governments will only work together on climate change if it benefits GDP, and that there are no other pressing matters on the country’s agenda. Climate change is arguably at the bottom of priorities for Presidents Zelensky and Putin.
Main Battle Tanks, ammunition, medical supplies and air defence systems top President Zelensky’s priorities, not the latest Ultra Low Emission Vehicles. In Moscow, Putin’s priorities are maintaining political control and seeking military aid to bolster his failing army. Putin made his choice to invade Ukraine, and although the West can not control Moscow’s actions, they have chosen to support Kyiv with military aid.
Developing sustainability goals and strategies has become a business priority. This last week, I drafted the first ever annual Sustainability Report for my employer. There are eight billion people on the planet, all competing for finite resources, and it’s never too late to think about future generations.
When I first learned of the United Nations Sustainability Development Goal 02 (Zero Hunger) I automatically thought of the millions of displaced persons. Yet in 2023, there are 2,500 food banks across Britain. The situation is so serious, supermarket shoppers can choose to make donations to local food banks before they leave the store. During a recent corporate leaders’ meeting, we decided to support the Trussell Trust by donating food to local food banks.
New figures released today by the Trussell Trust reveal that 1.3m emergency food parcels were provided to people between April and September this year (2022) by food banks in the charity’s UK network and almost half a million of these went to children.
One outcome of this year’s WEF meeting was the need for leaders to balance the energy transition and energy resilience. Simply, governments must do more to move to clean energy, but policy makers will argue energy security is more important than the race to Net Zero and meeting the obligations of the Paris Agreement. Re-engaging in the fossil fuel market is an option for the United Kingdom with its vast coal seam and options to import South American coal.
Environmental campaigner Greta Thunberg weighed in with a good point on the Davos attendees.
“So we are right now in Davos, where basically the people who are mostly fueling the destruction of the planet, the people who are at the very core of the climate crisis, the people who are investing in fossil fuels, and yet somehow these are the people that we seem to rely on solving our problems.” Greta Thunberg, via LinkedIn.
Choices are what both political and business leaders are paid to do, but seldom do they get it right, often under difficult situations. How many more chances do we have before the scarcity of natural resources becomes critical? How many more times will leaders continue to make the same bad choices as their predecessors?
History tells us penurious choices that cause catastrophic global events, from wars to the crashing of global financial markets. The 21st Century is littered with terrible political choices, from the decision to invade Iraq in 2003, to Putin’s decision to send his troops into Ukraine.
Britain and the EU’s decision to turn a blind eye on the energy supply chain, relying on Russian gas imports is right up there as one of the century’s biggest political blunders. However, I’d argue the governments of the 1990s are equally to blame for the energy mess we find ourselves in.
Fragilities in energy supply chain, disruptions to global trade, mass migration, the cost-of-living crisis, and food poverty all continue to create chaos in the world. We, now more than ever need to find head space and maintain control and clarity over our own choices.
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When will governments and leaders start to understand the implications of their actions effect individual sometimes more than the state .