Can Davos refocus minds on long-term crises?

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  Lawrence Summers, president emeritus and professor at Harvard University, speaks during a panel session on day three of the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland. Bloomberg

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  Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Tanzanian President Samia Hassan during a panel discussion in Davos. AP

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  EU Parliament President Roberta Metsola speaks at the forum. AP

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  Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, left, speaks to CNN journalist Fareed Zakaria at the Congress Centre in Davos. AFP

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  Iranian-American journalist and women's rights activist Masih Alinejad takes part in an interview with a TV news channel in Davos. AFP

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  Mr Mitsotakis is seen on a TV camera viewfinder at the Congress Centre in Davos. AFP

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  Faisal Alibrahim, Saudi Arabia's Economy and Planning Minister, speaks during a panel session in Davos. Bloomberg

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  Climate activist Greta Thunberg addresses journalists in Davos. Reuters

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  Mary Erdoes, chief executive of JP Morgan Chase's asset wealth management arm, listens during a panel session in Davos. Bloomberg

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  Officials take part in the World Economic Forum's Busting Business Barriers session. Photo: World Economic Forum

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  Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, the UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade, is among the senior officials in Davos. Photo: WEF

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  Former US vice president Al Gore, who is also a member of board of trustees of the forum, at a session titled Leading the Charge through Earth's New Normal. Photo: WEF

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  Famed cellist Yo-Yo Ma performs at the event. Photo: WEF

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  Deemah Al Yahya, secretary general of the Digital Co-operation Organisation in Saudi Arabia, at the forum's Turning Technologies into the Markets of Tomorrow session. Photo: WEF

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  US climate change envoy John Kerry at the Keeping the Pace on Climate session. Photo: WEF

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  Shoes worn by Rodrigo Oliveira, founder of Brazilian group Green Mining, emphasise support for environmental initiatives. Photo: WEF

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  Mina Al-Oraibi, Editor in Chief of The National, moderates a session on the Middle East that featured Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Saudi Arabia's Minister of Foreign Affairs. Photo: WEF

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  Officials and delegates take part in the Middle East: Meeting Point or Battleground? session. Photo: WEF

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  Polish President Andrzej Duda speaks at the Restoring Security and Peace session. Photo: WEF

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  Mr Duda, Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg, Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, Yuliia Svyrydenko, first deputy prime minister in Ukraine, and US Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines attend a session hosted by broadcaster Fareed Zakaria. Photo: WEF

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  Olena Zelenska, Ukraine's first lady, watches as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses the forum. Photo: WEF

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  Mohamad Al Ississ, Jordan's Minister of Finance, takes part in the session titled The Middle East: Meeting Point or Battleground? Photo: WEF

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  Mr Zelenskyy gives a video address to the forum in Davos. AFP

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  Former US secretary of state Henry Kissinger appears on screen during the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum, in Davos. AP

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  US governors Brian Kemp and JB Pritzker, senators Chris Coons, Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema and representatives Maria Salazar and Mikie Sherrill take part in a panel discussion at Davos. AP

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  Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan attends a session in Davos. AFP

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  Chinese Vice Premier Liu He on the opening day of the forum. Bloomberg

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  Fifa president Gianni Infantino, left, and Patrice Motsepe, billionaire founder of African Rainbow Minerals, arrive at the forum's venue in Davos. EPA

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  Finland's Prime Minister Sanna Marin, right, is interviewed by Fareed Zakaria in Davos. AP

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  Delegates visit the refreshments area between sessions in Davos. Bloomberg

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  Singer Angelique Kidjo performs in Davos. EPA

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  From left, WEF founder Klaus Schwab, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska and Swiss President Alain Berset pose together during the 53rd annual meeting of the forum in Davos. EPA

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  Ms Zelenska hit out at Russia and said 'we cannot allow a new Chernobyl to happen'. AFP

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  Mr Berset addresses delegates in Davos. EPA

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  Ms von der Leyen said the 27-nation bloc would become much more forceful in countering unfair trading practices. Reuters

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  Ferdinand Marcos, President of the Philippines, arrives to attend a session in Davos. AP

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  Former US vice president Al Gore is expected to discuss decarbonisation, as well as efforts to build clean energy infrastructure and ensure equitable growth. EPA

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  From second left, WEF president Borge Brende, Carbon Direct vice chairwoman Nili Gilbert and US climate envoy John Kerry with other delegates in Davos. EPA

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  Credit Suisse chairman Axel Lehmann speaks during the 53rd WEF Annual Meeting. EPA

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  DP World chief executive Sultan bin Sulayem in Davos. Bloomberg

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  UBS chief executive Ralph Hamers speaks during a television interview on the opening day of the forum. Bloomberg

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  From left, Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing Ltd chairwoman Laura Cha, Banco de Portugal Governor Mario Centeno, Bloomberg TV anchor Francine Lacqua, Credit Suisse chairman Axel Lehmann and S&P Global president and chief executive Douglas Peterson during a panel session on the opening day of the forum. Bloomberg

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  Mr Kerry delivers a speech at the Congress Centre in Davos. AFP

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  Musicians take part in a concert during the official opening of the forum. Photo: WEF

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  Jordanian vocalist Farah Siraj, centre, and Egyptian-Australian multi-instrumentalist Joseph Tawadros, left, perform during the I Sea You concert. Photo: WEF

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  Tawadros is one of the world's leading oud performers and composers. Photo: WEF

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  WEF managing director Alois Zwinggi speaks during a session called 'In Harmony with Nature'. Photo: WEF

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  Gail Whiteman, left, a professor of sustainability at the University of Exeter Business School, speaks during the 'In Harmony with Nature' panel discussion. Photo: WEF

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  Mr Schwab delivers a speech during the 'Crystal Award' ceremony in Davos. AFP

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  Actor Idris Elba, right, and his wife Sabrina Dhowre Elba, left, smile on the podium during the Crystal Award ceremony. AP

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  Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko attends the Crystal Award ceremony. EPA

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  Singer Renee Fleming, right, receives a Crystal Award from Hilde Schwab, wife of WEF founder Klaus Schwab. AP

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  Delegates at the welcome reception before the official start of the forum. Bloomberg

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  Food for attendees at the welcome reception. Bloomberg

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  A kiosk serving hot chocolate from the UAE at the forum. Bloomberg

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  The Infosys pavilion at the forum. Bloomberg

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  Ukraine's pavilion in Davos. Reuters

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  Swiss police officers on patrol in Davos. Reuters

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  From left, German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck with Swiss ministers Guy Parmelin and Albert Roesti before the start of a bilateral meeting in Davos. EPA

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  A delegate passes a digital display in Davos. Bloomberg

The changing nature of the annual World Economic Forum (WEF) at Davos is a good means of gauging swings in the global economic mood. In recent years, as environmental issues get more attention, increasing criticism is being made of the many who travel to the event in private jets. For its part, the Forum encourages initiatives like off-setting carbon footprints from travel. And during the worst of the Covid-19 pandemic, the event's largely successful shift online reflected global markets and a world of work that showed great adaptability. The Global Reset was another initiative to look at how the world will reset after the pandemic. In 2023, the event is back fully in-person again.

The environment and legacy of Covid-19 will continue to play a big role in this year's summit. But perhaps the defining aspect of this one will be the significant danger of a global recession, as historic events and challenges threaten the world economy. The World Bank cut its growth outlook for 2023 to 1.7 per cent last week, and in the WEF's own Global Risks Report, a survey of experts found that the cost of living crisis is expected to be the most significant risk in the next two years. That puts it ahead of natural disasters and extreme weather.

A leading cause is the double whammy of the war in Ukraine and today's global energy pressures. The two are very much linked. The Ukrainian first lady, Olena Zelenska, will participate in an online session run by a private foundation. Russian participants will be absent from meetings. The fact that 2023 is starting with talk mostly of more hostility between Russia and Ukraine stokes fears that peace, the necessary condition for true recovery, is a long way off. It has almost been a year since the war began. With no end in sight, world leaders should come together to make sure there will not be a two-year anniversary.

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  World Economic Forum delegates arrive at the Davos Congress Centre in Switzerland, on Monday. Reuters

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  Solar panels on the rooftop of the centre. Bloomberg

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  Swiss police on duty in the Swiss resort town. Reuters

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  A traffic jam on a road leading to the venue of the forum. Reuters

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  The Davos Congress Centre is the venue of the WEF's Annual Meeting. Reuters

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  Visitors queue outside Ukraine's pavilion in Davos. Reuters

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  Police officers on patrol. Bloomberg

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  A police officer stands guards and keeps a watchful eye from the roof of a nearby hotel. AP

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  Equipment at the Arctic Basecamp pavilion is checked before the start of the forum. Bloomberg

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  All eyes will be on Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission President, who will deliver the first major address to this year's forum on Tuesday. Photo: WEF

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  The Russia-Ukraine war is one that is on the mind of officials and executives attending the WEF's Annual Meeting in Davos. Photo: WEF

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  Another shadow cast over Davos this week is that of the global economy, with the World Bank cutting its growth outlook for 2023. Photo: WEF

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  Officials and economists are expected to assess the severity of an expected global recession and find ways to mitigate its impact. Photo: WEF

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  Issues such as soaring food and energy prices worldwide and the outlook for Europe's economy will be front and centre. Photo: WEF

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  Another key feature is the presence in full of major technology companies. Photo: WEF

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  Tech executives are expected to highlight their companies' potential amid questions about the financial woes they faced last year. Photo: WEF

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  A visitor tries out a virtual reality headset at a pavilion before the start of the forum's Annual Meeting. Bloomberg

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  Security guards stand at an entrance to an inflatable tunnel at the venue in Davos. Bloomberg

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  People walk in front of the Davos Congress Centre on Sunday. AP

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  A display of artificial coral inside the Davos Congress Centre. AP

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  A banner above the steps to the Davos Congress Centre. AP

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  Police officers patrol the Davos Congress Centre in Davos. EPA

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  A sign goes up in the main hall of the Davos Congress Centre on Sunday. EPA

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  This will be the first full in-person meeting of the WEF since Covid-19 crippled much of global conferencing activity. EPA

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  Preparations in the main hall on Sunday. EPA

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  This year’s Davos theme is 'Co-operation in a fragmented world'. Photo: WEF

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  There will probably be concerns on the outlook for cryptocurrencies after the collapse of FTX. Photo: WEF

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  Delegates are also expected to discuss concerns about a new wave of Covid-19 variants. Photo: WEF

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  This is the 52nd Annual Meeting hosted by the forum. Photo: WEF

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  Staff put the final touches to one of the conference halls in Davos. Photo: WEF

The strength of Davos is that it is not just politicians in attendance, but business leaders, artists, academics and activists, too. Their advocacy and testimony can help keep key issues at the forefront of international leaders' minds. An important camp this year comes from the world of tech, including Microsoft, Amazon and Zoom. After a troubling year with many lay-offs, the fragility of the once ascendant sector is yet another sign that things are troubling in the global economy.

While much of the issues in focus might stem from the West, there is a chance for all to contribute. The Middle East will play an important role this year. A Wednesday session entitled "Future by Design" includes three ministers from the UAE. In the dynamic Gulf region, whose economies appear more resilient than many fellow developed nations, navigating a world of "exponential change", which the event seeks to discuss, is something those in the GCC are well placed to explore. Saudi Arabia brings a large delegation, too. Their presentation of Vision 2030, a vast programme of investment and construction to diversify the national economy, will also be a valuable prompt for discussion.

Cop27 recently finished in Egypt. It is staying in the region for Cop28. The UAE will host it in November, and this year's Davos serves as an important chance to establish a roadmap that keeps the long-term issue on track, particularly as so many shorter-term ones mount.

After all, the climate plays a key role in today's difficulties, particularly in the Middle East. The region's fears over food security are partly linked to disruption caused by the war in Ukraine. That can eventually be solved, but fixing a deteriorating climate will be far harder.

There might be many challenges that need discussion, and a few days in a Swiss resort town cannot right the wrongs and solve the challenges of the world. But, as one of the most foremost meetings of global expertise, it can certainly provoke important conversations and keep long-term issues at the forefront of decision makers minds in an age of urgent short-term crises.