The World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2013: Resilient Dynamism

I have returned to London from my recent adventures on the slippery, snow-capped mountains of the Swiss Alps! More specifically, I spent the last week in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, where the 43^rd World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2013 was held (22 - 27 January). Presented with the golden opportunity of joining the Malaysian delegation on this trip, I made my way to London Heathrow in the early hours of the morning to catch a British Airways flight to Zurich. During the two-hour trip, one could already witness a preview of the event’s ambience as most passengers boarded the flight in suits and ties, and were found reviewing and rehearsing discussion papers throughout the voyage in their respective seats. From Zurich airport, it took another two and a half hours to reach the scenic ski resort, where some of the world’s global elite in politics and business had descended (or ascended, to be precise) to participate in the discussion on the challenged state of human affairs. 

A breathtaking view of the mountains and the moon from Parsenn, Davos-Klosters

Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato' Seri Najib Tun Hj. Abd Razak, headed the Malaysian delegation in Davos. Three of his cabinet ministers – Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, Minister of International Trade and Industry (MITI), Dato’ Sri Idris Jala, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, and Datuk Seri Panglima Dr. Maximus Johnity Ongkili, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) were part of the delegation.

Upon arrival in Davos, the grand scale of the event was evident in the surrounding atmosphere. Security was extremely tight with some roads in town specifically those leading to the Congress Centre, were strategically blocked, while military presence was seen on every street with extra security positioned near hotels in which heads of state and business magnates checked in.

Morosani Schweizerhof Hotel, where several of the WEF sessions took place

According to the event’s press release, over 2,500 participants from more than 100 countries representing business, government, academia and civil society were expected to participate in the 43rd WEF Annual Meeting under the theme “Resilient Dynamism”. In its declared commitment to improving the state of the world, the WEF helmed the design and development of the Annual Meeting programme, which was claimed to be “the foremost creative force for engaging leaders in collaborative activities focused on shaping the global, regional and industry agendas”. The pillars of the central theme were made up of the following:

· Leading through Adversity: Building Resilient Institutions, Improving Decision-Making, Strengthening Personal Resilience


· Restoring Economic Dynamism: Achieving Inclusive Prosperity, Rebuilding Economic Confidence, Unleashing Entrepreneurial Innovation

· Strengthening Societal Resilience: Reinforcing Critical Systems, Sustaining Natural Resources, Establishing Shared Norms

As Founder and Executive Chairman of WEF, Professor Klaus Schwab explained:

“To be resilient is to adapt to changing contexts, withstand sudden shocks and recover from 
them while still pursuing critical goals. We face a new reality of sudden shocks and prolonged 
global economic malaise, particularly in major economies experiencing economic austerity. Future growth in this new context requires dynamism – bold vision and even bolder action. Either attribute – resilience or dynamism – alone is insufficient, as leadership in 2013 will require both”. 

During a session that introduced the theme of the event, Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) spoke on the importance of individual empowerment, especially for women, and how the world could turn to the youths for renewed optimism. In her speech, Lagarde stated, "This new generation thinks differently. It's a generation weaned on immediacy, democracy and the global reach of social media". She listed the three major principles of the youth, which are openness, inclusiveness and accountability, and highlighted the global and open characteristics of the young generation, which encourages cooperation that transcends national priorities to achieve global good where everyone wins. That said, Lagarde reminded the audience of the repeated cries across the globe for stronger inclusion, transparency, and good governance, pointing out that "we live in a participatory world where the young generation expects tolerance, respect, fairness & opportunities."

Christine Lagarde during her speech at a WEF session
(Source: The Guardian)

In addressing climate change, Lagarde acknowledged that it is the greatest challenge of the 21^st century as global temperatures in 2012 were the hottest recorded since 1880: “Without concerted actions, the next generation would be roasted, toasted, fried and grilled and it’s on us to avoid that”. It is also interesting to note that Lagarde called attention to the significance of citizen power through information technology, touching on the issue of governments allowing people access to information and stating that "good governance is the bedrock of economic success". She explained that it was vital for countries to have the strength to build governance to effectively implement policies and that the private sector should be involved as well, not only for profit-making but also to add value, jobs, and to generate positive impacts in society. In relation to my research topic on environmental access rights, Lagarde’s speech hints on the urgency required in accelerating implementation of access principles, as well as the role of not only governments, but also all key actors including businesses, academia, and civil society, in nurturing an ecosystem based on good governance that is demanded by the young generation. At such a globally reputable event, it is vital in this regard, for decision-makers to recognise that access rights under good governance are elements that could contribute to economic growth and social prosperity, as well as generate solutions to help maintain environmental sustainability.

However, as exciting as it would have been to actually attend the session in which Lagarde delivered her speech, I was only able to follow it through live televised broadcast. Undoubtedly, the exclusivity (and elite nature) of the WEF Annual Meeting meant that it was not possible for simply anyone to attend the planned sessions, which covered a range of intriguing topics such as “Sustainable Competitiveness”, “Meeting the Innovation Imperative”, “Women in Economic Decision-making”, and “The Global Science Outlook”. Nevertheless, it has been widely acknowledged that most collaborations and meaningful dialogue that occur during the week of the event have taken place in the corridors, in between the sessions, and in separately organized meetings. Throughout the process, I observed the making of bi-lateral dialogues and partnerships taking place in hotel lobbies, cafés, and even the ladies room. Nonetheless, for a student like myself, being present in the environment of the event offered networking opportunities and a chance to witness how world leaders interact amongst themselves. Additionally, there were side events such as the Open Forums of which members of the public were invited to attend and participate in.

Open Forum Davos 2013 - "NGOs: New Models for the 21st Century"

At the Open Forum Davos 2013

I was also fortunate to gain access to a brief press conference with Malaysian Prime Minister, Dato’ Seri Najib Tun Razak and international media at the Morosani Schweizerhof Hotel. During the press conference, he emphasised the importance of taking advantage of the WEF Annual Meeting as a platform for enhancing Malaysia’s presence in the international arena, underscoring its latest developments and potential for the future, and showcasing the country as a destination for tourism and investment.

Throughout the week in Davos, I continued to follow the active participation of the Malaysian Prime Minister who was a panelist in three of the WEF sessions. In “The Economic Malaise and its Perils”, which was televised live in collaboration with Al-Jazeera, the session was programmed to focus on the political and societal risks arising from economic malaise. However, it was concluded as a “misnamed” session after the discussions apparated towards positive outlooks, new and innovative solutions, and the importance of can-do attitudes. In this session, the PM mentioned the “Malaysia Boleh” (Malaysia Can-Do) slogan that has been repeatedly used in the country, explaining how it has instilled the can-do spirit in Malaysian society. He also talked about how Malaysia recovered from the East Asian Financial Crisis in 1997 without assistance from the IMF, and the creation of its own model of social safety nets to avoid political and social costs.

Prime Minister of Malaysia as a panelist on WEF session,
"The Economic Malaise and its Perils"

Malaysia's Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation
making a comment during a WEF session

“An Insight, An Idea with Mohd Najib Bin Tun Abdul Razak” was a one-on-one session that was available for access through live webcast. The Prime Minister was interviewed by CNN anchor, Fareed Zakaria, on the Government’s policies and programmes, the upcoming elections, how to foster unity in diversity, and implementing dynamic changes through the Government Transformation Programme (GTP) and the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) to propel Malaysia into becoming a sustainable, inclusive and high-income nation by 2020.

“Resilience in Diversity” was the third session attended by the PM. It focused on economic and geopolitical challenges in ASEAN countries and fostering economic integration as well as ensuring regional security. Unfortunately, the session was neither accessible by non-participants nor televised through television or online.

Events that I managed to attend included the WEF Open Forums that covered various issues such as NGO accountability, youth unemployment, and religion in the 21^st Century, an official dinner hosted by Dato’ Ho May Yong, Ambassador of Malaysia to Switzerland, and “Malaysia Night”, a vibrant soiree that served to promote Malaysia as a destination for foreign investment, trade, tourism and education while providing opportunities for WEF participants to network with the Prime Minister and Malaysian industry leaders. “Malaysia Night” was considered a success, and gave me the chance to freely mingle in a roomful of policymakers, business tycoons, local and international celebrities, and be in the presence of the world’s most influential people including Professor Klaus Schwab and Joseph E. Stiglitz. Malaysian business leaders such as Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, Group CEO of AirAsia, Datuk Jimmy Choo, luxury shoemaker, and celebrity figures including Hollywood actress (and former Bond girl) Datuk Seri Michelle Yeoh as well as singer Jaclyn Victor were also spotted at the star-studded event.

In retrospect, the lessons learnt and memorable experiences gained from joining the Malaysian delegation in attending the WEF Annual Meeting were priceless, and supplied me with additional information on the dimensions of governance-related issues that links back to my research topic. As for being in Davos itself, surrounded by the international atmosphere and dialogue as well as picturesque mountains of the Swiss Alps, no words can truly describe the valuable knowledge, exposure, and sense of self-growth that was gained from this 5-day trip. I am indeed fortunate to have been given this amazing opportunity and if given another chance, I truly hope to be able to attend the event again in the near future. 

Many thanks to my supervisor, Karen Makuch, and Imperial College London for their support in allowing and encouraging me to join the delegation on this trip. :)    

A frozen lake in snowy Davos, Switzerland

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2013

It’s the beginning of another new year, and with it brings fresh, new chapters in the lives of each and every one of us. For me, 2012 was a rollercoaster year of major ups and downs, and ups again. But be they good or bad, I can honestly say that I am forever grateful for all that has happened to me. I successfully completed the Masters programme with my fellow colleagues (and friends for life) at EOI in Madrid, returned to Malaysia and spent the Eid holidays with family in Kuala Lumpur, and moved to my new homecity, London, where I had been accepted to pursue my Ph.D studies at Imperial College. All that within the span of 6-8 months! Since then, I have absorbed a good amount of new knowledge, discovered new networks of friends and professional contacts, introduced myself to new areas of personal and academic interest, and feel that I have grown a bit as a result of getting that wonderful opportunity to spread my wings in a different part of the world.

Overall, it was an amazingly great year with many lessons learnt and memories cherished! :) 

The Big Ben and I

For 2013, I am looking forward to exploring in greater depths the areas of my Ph.D research and what I might further discover in the process. I also hope to achieve more in my life, and in more ways than one. There’s no telling what will happen, but that is part of life’s mysteries, which I think is what makes us appreciate it even more. My mother always told me when I was growing up that if life were smooth sailing, where would the thrill and excitement be? And what stories of adventure could we share with our future grandchildren if everything was achieved without much challenge?

Indeed, I am extremely happy to be where I am today, and I thank God, my family, and everyone in my life who has provided me with love, care, guidance, encouragement, and a shoulder to lean (and sometimes cry) on.

I wish everyone a very Happy New Year and may you all continue to pursue your passions and dreams until you find yourselves living them!

I now leave you with this poem from Rumi, one of my favourite poets, which I think is greatly aligned with my own thoughts and approach on life's lessons (both good and bad): 

The Guest House

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

- Rumi

  

Best wishes for 2013!

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Impact Conference 2012

On Tuesday evening, I attended the Impact Conference on Policy, Politics and Science, which was hosted by A Global Village. The event opened with a keynote address delivered by MP Adam Afriyie, who was Shadow Minister for Science and Innovation and is currently Chair of the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST). Mr. Afriyie’s speech revolved around the theme of science and policy, with an overview of its threats and opportunities. An interesting argument was made on the scientific approach to policymaking as Mr. Afriyie opined that it could ensure decisions are made by well-informed politicians who have been provided with information on the science behind a given issue, and thus prevent decision-makers from creating policies based solely on ideologies. He also touched on the existing innovation gap caused by the disconnect between research and its application and commercialisation, the importance of maintaining research funding, and how to make government data sets freely available for science, business and academic research. 

The event was then followed by multiple workshops on topics ranging from poverty, climate change, and global health, to innovative technology for development, cyber-security, leadership and conflict resolution in war-torn countries. 

I jumped at the opportunity of attending this event as it addressed international issues that are related to sustainable development, and the ways in which policymakers, scientists, and engineers could contribute in making a positive and effective impact on societies around the world. 

The discussions from the event addressed the importance of information, education, citizen participation, their influence in political decision-making as well their roles in social and environmental movements that we have seen in recent times. In addition, the event’s central theme, which emphasises on the collaboration between policymakers, scientists and engineers relates to the elements of good governance that indeed calls for the involvement of all actors that is essential in the concepts of democracy, human rights, and sustainability. I also found the idea of taking a scientific approach to policymaking as an interesting notion that could be further explored. 

All in all, the keynote address and the workshops were informative, interactive, and thought-provoking, and the conference certainly exposed participants to discussions on global issues from the political, scientific and technological dimensions. However, I would have also liked to see a business leader or representative present on the role of the private sector and social enterprises in policymaking, and how they could create that global impact in a way that brings sustainable benefits to the world.

Green Courts

I just read this news article from the New Straits Times on the launching of "green courts" in Malaysia and would like to share it with you. They were established to handle cases related to environmental issues and crimes. 

To me, this is exciting development as it shows progress in addressing environmental problems in the country, such as pollution, wildlife trafficking, and illegal logging, and to better enforce national environmental laws and regulations. It is also relevant to the topic of my research, so I'm really interested in seeing how these green courts will play out and the cases that will be tried. 

Congratulations! I look forward to following the developments of our newly established "green courts".  :)

The Global Race towards the Emerging Bioeconomy

The recent US presidential race and the re-election of Barack Obama to a second term brought a sigh of relief for many in the United States and around the world, especially after Mitt Romney’s disturbing jokes on Obama’s plans to “slow the rise of the oceans” and “heal the planet” that took place at the GOP Convention before Hurricane Sandy wreaked devastation in New York City. With Obama's return to the White House, activists are continuing to put pressure on him to openly address issues on climate change, clean energy, and other environmental concerns.

Meanwhile, I have been noticing the development of another hot topic, which is the bioeconomy. Back in April, the US published its National BioEconomy Blueprint which according to the White House, has two main purposes – “to lay out strategic objectives that will help realize the full potential of the U.S. bioeconomy and to highlight early achievements toward those objectives”.

In Brussels, the European Commission proposed its Bioeconomy Strategy – Innovating for Sustainable Growth: a Bioeconomy for Europe, which emphasizes the need for Europe to transition to a post-petroleum society. Its aim is to “pave the way to a more innovative, resource efficient and competitive society that reconciles food security with the sustainable use of renewable resources for industrial purposes, while ensuring environmental protection”.

In China, the country has placed bioeconomy as one of its key development priorities and in its 12th Five-Year Plan, biotechnology has been included as one of China’s seven strategic emerging industries.

And in Malaysia, we have what’s called the Bioeconomy Initiative Malaysia (BIM), which is expected to produce new ideas and methods of utilizing renewable energy under the support of the National Biotech Policy.

It seems that the world is all abuzz over this emerging engine of growth and countries are racing to become the global leader in biotechnology.

So what is the bioeconomy and why is it given so much attention these days?

According to the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development’s (UNCSD) Rio +20 event on Bio-economy and Development, “the functioning of today’s economic system essentially depends on non-renewable resources, and cannot be therefore sustained forever, it cannot be eternal…”

There is a steady realization that the conventional model of unlimited growth cannot be sustainable because it does not take into account that the energy and natural resources we are currently dependent on are finite. Continuing to intensely exploit these resources could lead to what is described as “an alteration of the biological balances, up to ecologic and economic rejection".

Source: The European Bioeconomy in 2030:
Delivering Sustainable Growth byAddressing the Grand Societal Challenges

In this regard, the bioeconomy presents an alternative solution that could harness innovation, contribute to economic growth and most importantly produce beneficial outcomes for society and the environment. 

Also referred to as the “green economy” or “biotechonomy”, the bioeconomy has been defined and described in several different ways. The OECD stated:

“From a broad economic perspective, the bioeconomy refers to the set of economic activities relating to the invention, development, production and use of biological products and processes”. 

In the US, the emphasis on the bioeconomy is on “harnessing biological research innovations to meet national challenges in health, food, energy, and the environment”, whereas in the EU a bioeconomy “encompasses the production of renewable biological resources and the conversion of these resources and waste streams into value added products, such as food, feed, bio-based products and bioenergy”.

The UNCSD explains that “Bio-economy is an environmental and economic theory and practice by which you can proceed towards a new ecological and social development.” Thus, it is understood that the basic concept of the bioeconomy is to turn biomass into marketable goods and services such as biofuels, bioplastics, bioenergy, and so on. 

According to Dato’ Dr Mohd Nazlee Kamal, CEO of the Malaysian Biotechnology Corporation (BiotechCorp), the biotechnology industry contributes roughly 2.2% towards Malaysia’s GDP and about $5.4bn in investments for private and public spending. The Chairman of BiotechCorp, Dato’ Dr Zakri Abdul Hamid, explained “instead of an economy dependent on the planet's limited supply of non-renewable resources such as petroleum and coal, we could convert plant material, municipal and livestock waste and biomass into electricity, fuels, plastics and the basic components of chemical processes”.

Source: New Straits Times

However, there are also concerns that have been raised in the global debate. It has been argued that biomass will presumably be produced using the techniques of industrial agriculture, which may not necessarily be biofriendly, and would cause the destruction of biodiversity, erosion, pollution, deforestation, land-grabbing, and increased GHG emissions.

Skepticism were expressed by the Action Group on Erosion, Technology and Concentration (ETC), in The New Biomassters - Synthetic Biology and The Next Assault on Biodiversity and Livelihoods, as it argues that “what’s behind the dash to biomass is not high ideals but the calculated interest of the corporate bottom line. Far from changing to a new economy, the biomass transition describes the retooling of the same old economy of production, consumption, capital accumulation, and exploitation – only now a new source of carbon is being plundered to keep the industrial machines going". 

The International Food Policy Research Institute (in their paper on Water and Food in the Bio-economy: Challenges and Opportunities for Development) also stated concerns with regard to the impact of the bioeconomy on water and land resources in relation to biofuel production, reporting that "the water requirement for energy derived from biomass is quite large—about 70 to 400 times greater than other energy carriers such as fossil fuels, wind and solar (Gerben-Leenes et al. 2008 as quoted in DeFraiture and Berndes 2009)". 

Hence, while it appears that the bioeconomy could contribute to major socio-economic developments, such as improving health outcomes, boosting the productivity of agriculture and industrial processes, and enhancing environmental sustainability, harnessing its potential will require coordinated policy action by governments, collaborative business models for knowledge-sharing, strategic investments in research, active citizen participation, and effective dialogue between all actors involved in the transition. Without proper regulation and implementation, the bioeconomy could bring future risks and further exacerbate social and environmental problems. 

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