Once again, the world is gathered in Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic forum (WEF)’s annual meeting themed “Creating a Shared Future in a Fractured World.” The meeting will run from 23rd to 26th January, 2018 and you can watch sessions live or catch up on https://www.weforum.org/events/world-economic-forum-annual-meeting-2018.
Interesting, the WEF’s Global Risk Perceptions Survey ranks 4 climate and environment related risks in the top 5. This means that the environment continues to pose the greatest risks and therefore requires greater attention, care and investment.
One of the highlights so far is the announcement French President Emmanuel Macron to shut down all coal-fired power stations in the country by 2021. He stated that he wanted to “make France a model in the fight against climate change,” as one of five pillars in his plans to reform the economy. “That is a huge advantage in terms of attractiveness and competitiveness. Talent will come where it is good to live. We can create a lot of jobs with such a strategy,” he added.
The European Union is also largely recording successes with a turn from coal power largely due to rapidly falling prices for renewables and air pollution laws. The French President also called for the EU to “go a little bit further and create a floor price for CO2.” You may recall that the EU opened the world’s first carbon trading market which work by providing financial incentives to cut pollution, and many experts now call for a minimum price on carbon to boost progress.
While referring to the gargantuan infrastructure project to link China and Europe, Macron said that “The new Silk Road has to be a green road. We cannot have a coal-based route.” He also said that the world needs concrete action and results on Climate Change by the year 2020.
Well leaders like Macron are definitely rising to the challenge and playing their parts. What commitments are your countries making? Do you think they are on the right path?
Cheers to a better world!
RESOURCES
World Economic Forum Annual Meeting
Macron at Davos: I will shut all coal-fired power stations by 2021