People, societies and companies face the reality of a world in transformation. In addition to the seemingly endless supply of shocks, with the tragic violence in the Middle East being the most recent, deep structural shifts are clearly afoot from geoeconomics to climate change to artificial intelligence. Given this level of uncertainty and the high stakes involved, there is a clear need to move past the diagnosis of challenges firmly towards solutions.
With trust eroding, long-term visions may be too abstract to rally around, while merely focusing on responses to current shocks will leave everyone vulnerable to the transformations at hand. What is needed are new and upgraded platforms for dialogue, stronger partnerships, agile policy frameworks and effective deployment of technologies that can lead to practical and implementable gains for societies across both short-term and strategic horizons.
The theme
Against this backdrop and to instil a measure of collective agency, it is necessary to start restoring trust at three fundamental levels: into the future, within societies and among nations. Therefore, the 54th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum will convene under the theme Rebuilding Trust to provide the crucial space to step back and focus on the fundamental principles driving trust, including transparency, consistency and accountability.
The method
To meet this ambition, the architecture of the Annual Meeting 2024 will focus on the core roles and functions developed throughout its evolution. As such, it will:

Serve as a place for open and constructive dialogue among nations and all stakeholders in society
Bring the leaders of government, business and civil society together in search of solutions to critical global challenges
Help connect the dots in an increasingly complex environment of wide-ranging change
Provide foresight by introducing the latest advances in science, industry and society.

The stakeholders
The Annual Meeting 2024 will welcome over 100 governments from around the world, all major international organizations, the Forum’s 1000 Partner companies, as well as civil society leaders, the foremost experts, today’s youth generation, social entrepreneurs and the media.
The programme
The programme will consist of well-structured and well-prepared workstreams directly related to the crucial issues driving the future across four interconnected thematic priorities:
1. Achieving Security and Cooperation in a Fractured World
How can we effectively deal with security crises, such as the current situation in the Middle East, while at the same time putting the floor under the structural forces of fragmentation? How can we identify areas where cooperation is essential to ensure a win-win scenario for all stakeholders?
Building on the Forum’s long-term and structured engagement with governments, international organizations and experts from all regions.
2. Creating Growth and Jobs for a New Era
How can government, business and civil society come together around a new economic framework to avoid a decade of low growth and put people at the centre of a more prosperous trajectory? How can we minimize trade-offs and maximize synergies in a situation where traditional measures seemingly fail?
Supported through partnerships with international economic institutions and top academics, as well as the Forum’s work on competitiveness, innovation and human capital.
3. Artificial Intelligence as a Driving Force for the Economy and Society
How can we use AI to benefit all? How is the divergent regulatory landscape balancing innovation with societal risks? How will AI interface with other transformative technologies, including 5/6 G, quantum computing and biotechnology?
Anchored in the Forum’s AI Governance Alliance, integrating key governments and companies, and in 20 Centres for the Fourth Industrial Revolution worldwide.
4. A Long-Term Strategy for Climate, Nature and Energy
How can we develop a long-term systemic approach to achieve the objectives of a carbon-neutral and nature-positive world by 2050 while providing affordable, secure and inclusive access to energy, food and water? How do we balance these trade-offs to achieve social consensus?
Integrating the work of multiple purpose-driven Forum initiatives, including the CEO Climate Leaders and the First Movers Coalition.
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In addition, the question of what type of leadership do we need in this complex, constantly changing environment will be front and centre across all workstreams and proceedings.

Special Address by Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission

About this session

Speakers