The World Economic Forum has kicked-off in Davos with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres emphasising the urgent need for global collaboration in tackling the world’s growing challenges.
Guterres while addressing the Forum with focus on the theme “collaboration for the intelligent age,” pointed out that collaboration around the world was minimal with low level of intelligence. He went on to appraise the progress in the sectors of renewable energy, technology and health but warned that some existing challenges were worsening.
Guterres highlighted the persistence of global conflicts, including those in the Middle East, Ukraine, and Sudan, while reaffirming the UN’s commitment to peace.
The Secretary-General also warned of economic distress in developing nations, citing rising inflation and unsustainable debt burdens. He described the economic challenges in some countries as double-digit Inflation rate and 27 percent of government revenues been ruined by high interest rate on repayment of loan.
Gutterres pointed out that nuclear weapon was no longer the existential threats adding that climate change and artificial intelligence (AI) were new profound threat that demanded far more global attention and action.
He described the continuous use of fossil fuel as a “Frankenstein monster, sparing nothing and no one.” Guterres warned that 2024 had marked the hottest year and decade in history, with global temperatures breaching 1.5°C above preindustrial levels. He urged world leaders to fight even harder to get on track.
On AI, Guterres cautioned against its misuse., adding that it could disrupt economies and labor markets, undermine trust in institutions, and have chilling effects on the battlefield. He stressed the negative effect AI could have on the world saying “AI could deepen inequalities by excluding those without the resources or tools to benefit from its promise.
