12 Sessions

The risks posed by climate change to ecosystems and livelihoods are increasingly evident and consequential. There has been progress towards transitioning to cleaner forms of energy globally, with agreements between the United States and China showing a willingness by economies to focus on shared goals. Leaders will need to scale further policies and advanced technologies geared to make systemic and holistic progress towards a carbon-neutral and nature-positive future. Experts have indicated that additional investment and action are needed for countries to meet their climate goals. Emerging markets are both severely affected by the impacts of climate change and face a $2.2 trillion investment gap.

2 Sessions

The events of five turbulent years have pushed industries to pivot their activities and processes. After significant geo-economic and technological shifts, surveys indicate that technology now stands as the foremost driver of change for businesses, yet nearly half of executives say they are prepared for its rapid evolution. Industries’ transformation will be vital to ensuring not only their survival but further growth amid likely future shocks and uncertainties as the transition to a net-zero economy remains more crucial than ever. Amid this transformation is the opportunity to pave the way for sustainable sources of new growth.

11 Sessions

China is projected to contribute over one-quarter of global growth in 2024 and as the largest emerging economy, plays an important role in shaping global cooperation amid an increasingly fragmented geopolitical environment. It is an economy integral to geo-economic stability. Despite structural challenges, China’s dynamic innovation agenda and newly emerging industries present opportunities for continued and sustainable growth. Over the past five years, local companies more than doubled spending on research and development programmes while in 2023, China’s rapidly expanding clean energy sector accounted for about 40% of its economic expansion.

8 Sessions

Following a sequence of unprecedented events, the global economy is stabilizing, with projections of 3.1% growth in 2024 alongside other positive trends in economic indicators. The profound transformations brought on by recent crises have seen a shift towards new growth models. Increasingly governments are playing an active role in shaping economic and industrial policies, prioritizing key growth areas, such as technology and green industries, to ensure competitiveness. Leaders will need to navigate pressing challenges to promote sustainable and inclusive global growth. While in 2024 trade stands to benefit from economic growth and headline inflation is expected to fall, geo-economic competition and fragmentation continue to pose challenges and underlying inflation will need to be managed through sound and coordinated monetary policy.

9 Sessions

The emergence of generative artificial intelligence (AI) has sparked a surge in investment reversing the slow down of global venture capital funding seen in 2023. Such investments are projected to reach $200 billion by 2025 with AI start-ups set to drive growth across economies. Leaders will need to learn from the current applications of Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies, but also anticipate future advancements with the potential to drive productivity, growth and sustainability. Beyond the current boom of AI technologies is the rapid development of additional innovations – from biotechnology to quantum computing.

7 Sessions

Over the next five years, nearly a quarter of all jobs and just short of a half of workers’ skills will face disruption due to geo-economic shifts, technological changes and the green transition. The resulting churn in jobs and skills demands a coordinated response from policymakers, employers and workers to ensure a positive outcome for people across the globe. Innovative business and policy approaches will be needed to address job disruption, leaning on the opportunity of jobs created by technological advancement, green industries and supply chain localization. As the demand for skills and global talent pools shift, the reskilling and upskilling of workers is crucial and will require coordinated strategies involving all stakeholders.