The theme of the WEF's 2005 annual meeting is "Taking Responsibility for Tough Choices". The forum highlighted a number of tough issues, including China, climate change, equitable globalisation, Europe, global governance US leadership and world trade.
Two UN-released reports, one proposing a plan of action to achieve the Millenium Development Goals and another dealing with collective security, will feature on the agenda of the Forum. Delegates will also assess the World Trade Organisation's (WTO's) work ten years on.
Global Governance
In its annual report, the WEF's Global Governance Initiative criticises global leaders for failing to deliver on their promises in 2004. The report analyses global action in seven major issue areas: peace and security, poverty, hunger, education, health, environment and human rights. On a scale of 0 - 10, zero being deterioration and 10 meaning keeping promises for the given year, the 2004 score ranges between 2 and 4. The report finds no improvement in any area from 2003, moreover, in the area of peace and security the score fell from 3 to 2.
The special focus of this year's report is the role of the private sector, while acknowledging that "the prime responsibility for achieving global goals rests with governments". It encourages companies to:
- contribute through their core business practices, by focusing on the environmental aspects in their innovations as well as on helping the poor;
- engage in hybrid business & philanthropic activities, eg in HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment which extending beyond workers to local communities or establishing microcredit funds;
- practise strategic corporate philanthropy and social investment, one example being technology companies addressing the digital divide;
- take part in public policy dialogue in a transparent and responsible manner.
Despite a series of global failures in 2004, the report concludes on a positive note stating that "2005 could be a turnaround year" citing the UN's two reports on collective security and on making the Millennium Development Goals a success as important catalysts for change. It also makes reference to the possibilities in the ongoing (agricultural) trade negotiations under the Doha Round of WTO talks.
