For more than 50 years, the World Economic Forum has brought together movers and shakers from business, government, international organizations, civil society and academia. Since 1971 the start of each year has seen around 3’000 people gather in the 1.560m alpine resort town, as they hold round-the-clock meetings in shops, bakeries and hairdressers temporarily converted into WEF event venues. This year’s Annual Meeting 2022, back in Davos-Klosters after a two-year hiatus, will give world leaders an opportunity to once again breathe in fresh mountain air as they first take stock of the state of the world and then look to shape upcoming partnerships and policies.
The Annual Meeting 2022 provides a uniquely collaborative forum in which to finally reconnect after the last couple of years that have profoundly reshaped how (and where) we live, work, and play. And it couldn’t come at a more relevant time. This year’s WEF opens its doors as leaders have their hands full with two major challenges: post-Covid recovery on the one hand and trying to pave a path out of the geopolitical quagmire caused by the Russian-waged war in Ukraine on the other. Both post-Covid pandemic preparedness and the response to the Ukraine refugee situation and post-war rebuilding efforts will be examined through the broader lens of disaster response management. From 22-26 May 2022, leading decision-makers and their swathe of aides and assistants will put their heads together in Davos to share current insights, delve into new perspectives and build problem-solving communities and initiatives. Leaders will once again convene in person to address economic, environmental, political and social fault lines exacerbated by the pandemic.
As it stands, however, the steps decision-makers are currently taking pale in the face of exponentially accelerating and urgent problems. The recent IPCC report clearly pointed this out — in the words of IPCC Working Group III Co-Chair Jim Skea, ‘it’s now or never’. We have to say it loud and clear: time is running out. We need to do more, we need to do it faster, and we urgently need to move on from our existing policies’ woeful lack of ambition. Above and beyond imparting knowledge and understanding, the next generation of leaders must swiftly step up with inspiring, new ways of thinking and taking action. We must innovate and do things differently rather than repeating the mistakes of the past.
Here’s where InTent comes in: our mission is to provide a platform that accelerates sustainable solutions for business, people and the planet by building bridges and connecting people. Our Theory of Change (here below) explains how we intend to fulfil our mission.
Back for Davos 2022, the third time we’re present at Davos, InTent couldn’t be more excited about the possibilities we have to connect stakeholders, and leverage knowledge tools and resources that lead to tangible, measurable action and progress. Given the swathe of issues our post-pandemic, geopolitically-shaken world throws up, InTent will draw on its experience from the past two WEFs and make the most of the hard work we’ve been doing behind the scenes since the last WEF in 2020. Business leaders urgently need platforms such as InTent to talk over their upcoming projects and investments, as well as opportunities that facilitate cross-sectoral collaboration, allow risk-taking and enterprise, and stimulate solution creation processes that attract investment and trigger scaling-up.
As a major partner of the SDG Tent, InTent is putting all hands on deck to make SDG Tent 2022 a great success. Located just outside the WEF security zone, the SDG Tent provides a uniquely impartial, open space where ideas, thought leadership and unhindered dialogue can flow, flourish and stimulate the global debate on the role of business and its capacity to deliver sustainable and inclusive development.
Throughout Davos 2022, InTent will host an array of agenda-setting discussions and debates on Biodiversity, Education, Health and Sustainable Business Models with strategic partners including INSEAD, Roche, Capitals Coalition and many others. As InTent’s framework of reference centers around the SDGs, our mission at InTent is to accelerate sustainable solutions for business, people and planet by building bridges and connecting people. To discover more, dip into our Davos Programme which covers all of our events and extraordinary speaker line-up.
More than just a platform and facilitator, InTent draws on its extensive network of decision-makers, mobilizing an influential and diverse group of leaders as it cuts through the noise, builds bridges and fosters the perfect environment for new ideas. The annual meeting in Davos is an absolute cornerstone of our agenda and we can’t wait for the 2022 edition: we’re going to be bringing together, connecting and mobilizing stakeholders from around the world, but also inspiring them to commit to and to take concrete action during 2022.
What does true change call for? A shift from the ‘zero-sum’ mindset to a ‘win-win’ mindset is the starting-block. As humanity takes slow steps towards a sustainable approach, collaboration has to underpin this new approach. And, in this decade of action, all businesses have a responsibility to enable the private and public sector to drive prosperity and societal progress — by developing new business models, engaging with new partners, and forging and inspiring diverse, talented leaders of tomorrow who deliver value for the whole of society. Most importantly, it’s time businesses put sustainability at the very core of their business model.
Time may be scarce, but time spent on forging strong future-facing partnerships will be an investment that pays dividends.
