The World Economic Forum Blog

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12/09/11--07:29: Georgia: Fighting Corruption in Practice (chan 1843348)

In 2004, the new Georgian government fired every single traffic policeman in Georgia. All 18,000 of them. Traffic improved. But more than that, this was just one measure in a raft of anti-graft legislation that has brought the country from the bottom of the Transparency International rankings to being seen as cleaner than Italy, Brazil or Thailand.


12/12/11--03:11: A Green Investment Revolution? (chan 1843348)

By Donald Kanak, Chair of the Global Agenda Council on Insurance and Asset Management, Chairman, Prudential Corporation Asia Hundreds of billions of dollars are required to finance solutions to our world’s environmental and climate challenges. The meetings in Durban last...


12/12/11--05:22: 2012: A Critical Juncture for Global Governance (chan 1843348)

Next year will be a crucial inflexion point for the system of global governance that is facing so many challenges.


12/13/11--00:16: The Durban Deal: Time for Private Sector Leadership? (chan 1843348)

In the late hours of the climate change negotiations in Durban, South Africa, a few decisions have been reached by the Conference of the Parties (COP17). They include (http://unfccc.int/2860.php): On future commitments to replace those made in the Kyoto Protocol and the Copenhagen Accord The Parties struck agreement to develop a new treaty that renews the Kyoto Protocol, the fraying 1997 emissions agreement that sets different terms for advanced and developing countries, for several more years. They also agreed to begin a process—known as the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action—that will aim to replace the Kyoto agreement with something that treats all countries — including the economic powerhouses China, India and Brazil — equally. This ad hoc working group will consult with Parties and stakeholders and develop new proposals for commitments by no later than 2015, with the expectation that the first commitments will come into effect in 2020. Parties and observers were invited to submit new ideas by February 2012 on “proposals for increasing ambition and possible further actions.”


12/15/11--02:22: Biological weapons, countering the threat (chan 1843348)

On the 8th of December representatives from four companies participated in a panel discussion titled “Industry Perspectives on Implementation of the Biological Weapons Convention” at the 7th Review Conference of the Biological Weapons Convention held in Geneva.


12/15/11--06:00: Reaping the benefits of tourism, the African story (chan 1843348)

Sub-Saharan Africa has been forecast to expand by 5.1% in 2011 and has a positive outlook for growth over the next years. Still, according to statistics from the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Africa only accounts for 3.4% of global tourism receipts and 5.2% of tourist arrivals, despite constituting almost 15% of the world’s population.


12/16/11--04:47: The Global Agenda Councils in action, a year of accomplishments (chan 1843348)

With the new year just around the corner, I am proud to look back at the exciting and productive 2011 we had with the Global Agenda Councils. Coming into its fourth year, the Network of the Global Agenda Councils has monitored and addressed many of the most important milestones and challenges of 2011. Over 1,200 experts – Members of our 79 Councils – shared their time and expertise to develop new models that address pressing issues ranging from the Eurozone crisis and youth unemployment to population growth, competitiveness and health. In the spirit of the advent season, I am pleased to share with you 12 success stories where our Network has made a difference in 2011.


12/19/11--05:25: Open Forum 2012, your ticket to Davos (chan 1843348)

Since its launch in 2003, the Open Forum has created a bridge between the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting and the general public. While the Annual Meeting is by invitation only, the Open Forum is just that, open, to anyone and everyone who wants to participate in the discussion on how to improve the state of the world.


12/21/11--02:24: Top 10 IdeasLabs for 2011 (chan 1843348)

The World Economic Forum IdeasLab series presents the best ideas from the world’s leading minds. Below is a handpicked selection of the newest visions, inventions, insights and designs helping to change our world for the better. IdeasLabs are a unique format presented at World Economic Forum meetings around the world. In each IdeasLab, top academics present their current projects and thinking to a small international audience. Ideas are then openly examined and discussed in a powerful global platform.


12/22/11--02:36: Life without Trucks (chan 1843348)

Can you imagine a world without trucks? It’s not a scenario that keeps many people awake at night, but perhaps it should. If, for whatever reason, road haulage operations were suspended, the resulting dislocation of supply chains would result in economic collapse within a few days. This is the conclusion of a study I have carried out of the likely impact on the UK of a total shut-down of its road freight system.