At the beginning of the 21st century, the Forum began to deal more and more with environmental issues. [67] The Davos 2020 Manifesto states that a company includes, among other things: A number of NGOs have used the World Economic Forum to highlight growing inequality and wealth disparities. Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of Oxfam International, co-chaired the 2015 meeting, where she presented a critical report on the global distribution of wealth based on statistical research conducted by the Credit Suisse Research Institute. In this study, the richest percentage of the world`s population owns forty-eight percent of the world`s wealth. [97] At the 2019 meeting, she presented another report in which she argued that the gap between rich and poor had only widened. The “Public Good or Private Wealth” report found that 2,200 billionaires worldwide saw their wealth increase by 12%, while the poorest half saw their wealth fall by 11%. Oxfam is calling for global tax reform to increase and harmonize global tax rates for high-net-worth companies and individuals. [98] In 2017, the WEF attracted a lot of attention in Davos when a head of state from the People`s Republic of China was present at the Alpenresort for the first time. Against the backdrop of Brexit, a new protectionist US administration, and significant pressure on free trade zones and trade agreements, Supreme Leader Xi Jinping has defended the global economic system, portraying China as a responsible and environmentally leading nation. He strongly rejected current populist movements that would impose tariffs and hamper global trade, warning that such protectionism could foster isolation and reduce economic opportunities. [14] The Forum focused on its “Environmental and Natural Resources Security Initiative” for the 2017 meeting to achieve inclusive economic growth and sustainable practices for global industry. With increasing restrictions on global trade due to national interests and trade barriers, the WEF has taken a more sensitive and socially oriented approach to global business, focused on reducing carbon emissions in China and other major developed countries. [75] In 2019, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro delivered the keynote speech at the plenary session of the conference.

On his first international trip to Davos, despite his populist agenda, he emphasized liberal economic policies and sought to reassure the world that Brazil is a protector of the rainforest while using its resources for food production and export. He said that “his government will seek to better integrate Brazil into the world by systematically taking into account the international best practices adopted and promoted by the OECD.” [16] Environmental concerns such as extreme weather events and failure to mitigate and adapt to climate change were among the main global risks raised by GEF participants. [17] The World Economic Forum (WEF), based in Cologny, canton of Geneva, Switzerland, is an international NGO founded in 1971. The WEF`s mission is “committed to improving the state of the world by involving business, political, academic and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industrial agendas.” [1] Since the January 2003 annual meeting in Davos, a Davos Open Forum[101] has been held in parallel with the Davos Forum, co-organised by the Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches, which opens the debate on globalisation to the general public. The Open Forum is held annually at the local high school, attended by high-level politicians and business leaders. It is open free of charge to all members of the public. [102] [103] The organization also holds about six to eight regional meetings per year in Africa, East Asia, Latin America, and India, and holds two other annual meetings in China and the United Arab Emirates. In addition to meetings, the organization provides a platform for leaders from all stakeholders around the world – business, government and civil society – to collaborate on several projects and initiatives. [2] It also produces a number of reports and involves its members in sectoral initiatives. [3] Since 2011, the World Economic Forum has been dealing with its own gender quota, according to which there is at least one woman for every five executives present. The proportion of women increased from 9 per cent to 15 per cent between 2001 and 2005.

In 2016, 18% of World Economic Forum participants were women; That number rose to 21 percent in 2017 and 24 percent in 2020, five years of growth. [107] [108] Several women have since shared their personal impressions of the Davos meetings in press articles, pointing out that the issues run deeper than a “quota at Davos for women leaders or a session on diversity and inclusion.” [109] [110] [111] The World Economic Forum has filed a lawsuit against at least three investigative articles by journalists Katie Gibbons and Billy Kenber, published by the British newspaper The Times in March 2020. In January 2015, it was designated by the Swiss Federal Government as an NGO with the status of “other international body” under the Swiss Host State Act. [20] The Young Global Leaders group[49] is composed of 800 people selected by the WEF organizers as representatives of contemporary leadership, “coming from all regions of the world and representing all stakeholders of society”. depending on the organization. After five years of participation, they are considered alumni. A record number of participants came to the 2015 Annual Meeting in Davos-Klosters to discuss the chosen theme “The New Global Context”. The sessions were devoted to the political tensions and conflicts of the past year. Participants looked for ways to overcome the crisis and restore sustainable economic growth with a higher degree of social inclusion. There was a general realization that the world is on the cusp of a new technological revolution that requires increased cooperation between business, governments and civil society.

In 2020, the Forum published a report entitled: “Nature Risk Rising”. In that report, the forum estimated that about half of the world`s GDP is heavily or moderately dependent on nature, and $1 from nature restoration yields $9 in profit. [59] [60] “is more than an economic entity creating wealth.