The 2023 chapter of Dubai’s World Government Summit (WSG) unfurls today amid the backdrop of a devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria, and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. Throw in an evolving post-pandemic landscape and the exponential infiltration of technology in every walk of life. Never has ‘Shaping Future Governments’ — the theme for this year’s summit — been more relevant than now.
It is significant that Dubai has been chairing this global event since 2013 because this is a city that has hyper proactive when it comes to walking the talk on change, whether it is in the arena of public welfare, innovation or being ahead of the curve in core sectors. Over the next few days, the world’s sharpest minds and most influential leaders will be collaborating on a future that is hinged on inclusion and transparency: going forward, the world needs a template that collaborates at every step for the sake of humanity. Earlier summits had paved the way to start thinking out of the box, following processes that will, ultimately, build a solid foundation for human progress.
It is also significant how the neutrality of Dubai has played a big role in all previous chapters of the World Government Summit being on point. Devoid of self-seeking gimmicks, and believing in ‘everyone is welcome to contribute’, the emirate has built up a formidable — yet non-intimidating — brand equity of being a harbinger of dreams that are realised with affirmative action.
Someone who is in town to attend the summit was talking about the frisson of excitement he palpably felt as the aircraft he was travelling in prepared to make its landing. “Miles and miles of desert, and then suddenly, from nowhere, there springs to sight this great, modern metropolis… one that has been built from scratch.” Dubai has literally converted teeming sand dunes into milestones of opportunity, and sent out the message — to the rest of the world — that nothing is impossible when great minds come together and discuss the potential the future holds.
The current wave of austerity imperils the physical and mental health of the world’s most vulnerable workers. Studies have shown that the IMF’s structural-adjustment programmes have exacerbated health inequities in the Global South, where the majority of informal workers live
This is a Promethean moment we’ve entered — one of those moments in history when certain new tools, ways of thinking or energy sources are introduced that are such a departure and advance on what existed before that you can’t just change one thing, you have to change everything
The idea of it can distract us from doing what we need to do to make this world better; this timeline is only one we have access to, and it’s got to be enough
Some nations, such as US, Russia, China, India, have not signed on to ICC, citing concerns about court’s jurisdiction, potential impact on national sovereignty
When we think about children and screens, let’s also consider the relationship between adults and their TVs and smartphones. Watch cable news (where grandparents get their news), and you’ll see a discourse dominated by fear and anger
As countries across the world attempt to slow global warming, the switch to electric vehicles is particularly significant. But that requires wrenching change that is a death knell for hundreds of companies that make components for conventional engines. They will be obsolete in an EV world
While concerns about the geopolitical order, climate change and the Covid-19 pandemic have understandably been in the spotlight, water is rarely discussed outside the context of humanitarian responses to local, national, or transboundary floods or droughts
Making full amends may not be possible long after the events, but raising awareness is an achievement in itself
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