World Governments Summit: We don’t need miracles, we need commitment to humanitarian values, says Al Gergawi

Opening morning of conference hears call for restored public trust as new technological age begins

Mohammad Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, makes the case for hope in a new industrial era at the World Goverments Summit in Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

World Governments Summit: live updates

The World Governments Summit in Dubai opened on Tuesday with a speech by its chairman calling on humanity to learn from the mistakes of the past as a new technological age begins.

Over the next 25 years, Mohammed Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs said, artificial intelligence would move civilisation ahead faster than at any stage in history.

He also called on governments to keep pace with innovation and asked the richest nations to contribute more to eliminate poverty. “The past 25 years have been nothing short of extraordinary,” said Mr Al Gergawi.

“Marked by certain transformations and unprecedented shifts, the world in 2000 was optimistic, with globalisation seen as an unstoppable force for economic good and technological innovation. But the opposite has happened and we have given way to fragmentation, protectionism and populism.”

A speech from Mohammed Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, opens the World Governments Summit. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Growing population

The global population has increased from six billion in 2000 to 8.2 billion today, while the global economy has tripled to $33 trillion.

This century, the world went from domination by traditional industrial giants driven by oil, heavy manufacturing and financial services to one dominated by technology.

Conflict and natural disasters have cost millions of lives and displaced millions more.

Mr Al Gergawi said with only four per cent of conflicts resolved by peace agreements, it was time to look for alternatives to war through diplomacy.

“What if we had selected peace over violence and diplomatic solutions?” Mr Al Gergawi said in the summit’s opening address.

“A utopia – but we can make more wise decisions when we realise that stability and coexistence are much better than conflicts. It is said those who fail to learn from history are destined to repeat it.”

The minister said a disintegrating public trust in governments had led to a rise in populism, and he warned of further unrest.

“Since 2000, we have witnessed a decline and the level of trust in governments in many countries, and a rise of populist movements and protests around the world,” said Mr Al Gergawi.

“Studies suggest that eradicating hunger and disease would require approximately $800 billion annually. If the world's 50 largest economies allocated just one per cent of their GDP to solve these challenges, it would be more than enough – the decision is in our hands. Our future does not require miracles, only a commitment to our humanitarian values.”

Rapid rate of change

Discussion on the opening morning of the summit included how governments operate in an age of artificial intelligence, and how to innovate in a more connected world with an ageing population.

In 2050, more than 20 per cent of the world's population will be over the age of 60, double the percentage recorded in 2000.

Mohammed Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Chairman of the World Governments Summit, in discussion with Klaus Schwab, chairman of the board of trustees, World Economic Forum at the World Goverments Summit in Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

While tackling the health challenges of an ageing population, governments will also have to keep pace with the rapid rate of change.

“We are now moving from the industrial age to the intelligent age, but there's one big difference,” said Klaus Schwab, chairman of the board of trustees at the World Economic Forum.

“Where we had several generations to adapt, this transition is happening at exponential speed. It's a transition to a new time, which will change everything - how we communicate, how we work and how we live.

“Governments have to be enablers of this change at lightning speech, to provide the necessary infrastructure and to co-operate with business. Transition into this new intelligent age will only be mastered if all human society works together.”