Davos 2023: A day-by-day rundown

The World Economic Forum has wrapped up its annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland. The event was hosted 16–20 January 2023 and brought with it some insight into the future of work, and what the forum is doing to assist in the change.

The theme for 2023 was, “Cooperation in a fragmented world”. President of the forum, Børge Brende said: “Although the world is more fragmented today, it does not need to be tomorrow. By coming together like this, we can shape a more collaborative future.”

Day one: Awards and economic forecast

The first day at Davos kicked off with acknowledgment for arts and culture. The 29th Annual Crystal Awards, presented to those deemed “cultural leaders”, were announced on day one.

 

The winners were:

• Maya Lin: for her art, architecture, and activist work
• Renée Fleming: for her music and research into health
• Idris Elba and Sabrina Dhowre Elba: For their acting and humanitarian work

The Chief Economists Outlook was also revealed, with the survey finding that 63 per cent are expecting a global recession this year, 64 per cent believing the energy crisis will subside by 2024, 68 per cent thinking the cost of living will ease by 2024, and 100 per cent expecting the global economy to continue to be affected by geopolitical issues.

Day two: Ukraine war and more

The second day at Davos got stuck into the big issues, with the ongoing war in Ukraine being a major focus.

The President of the Swiss Confederation 2023, Alain Berset said: “The post-war order is currently experiencing its greatest crisis. Russia’s war of aggression on Ukraine constitutes a brutal attack on a peaceful country. But it is also a brutal attack on international law and multilateralism.”

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, also spoke, urging for continued solidarity: “We are in it for as long as it takes and stand by our Ukrainian friends.”

Trade, growth, the energy crisis, and climate change were also discussed.

Day three: World issues

The third day at Davos was flooded with calls for peace. Ukraine was once again mentioned, as well as global leaders urging for cooperation to tackle the climate crisis. Trade, unemployment, and carbon neutrality were discussed as leaders said these issues could be eased through international alliances.

Tech was also mentioned, as experts discussed how AI, cyber security, and the metaverse can all assist in shaping the world of the future.

Day four: Trade and DEI

The fourth day at Davos focused on trade. The reveal of the Coalition of Trade Ministers on Climate was front and centre, with the group working towards making trade more climate friendly.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion were also discussed, with the presenters agreeing there has been excellent progress made but there is still more to be done.

Day five: Unity

The fifth day at Davos served as a round-up of all the key ideas put forward over the week.

Mr Brende closed the event by saying: “In an uncertain and challenging time, one thing is clear. We can shape a more resilient, sustainable and equitable future, but the only way to do so is together.”

With messages of unity and cooperation dominating the event, many leaders have agreed that the way forward is to work together in tackling global issues.

To read more on Davos, Lawyers Weekly published an article on 26 January, which addressed Thierry Delaporte’s comments from Davos 2023, on whether it’s appropriate to message employees via social media.