Preliminary Agenda

The corona pandemic, the Ukraine war, and other conflicts show how fragile our societies and economies are. We believe that globalization must and will change fundamentally in the coming years. In the decades ahead, we will see the greatest economic transformation since the dawn of the industrial age. In this high-level panel discussion, we will talk about the causes and possible future developments of globalization. Questions include: Who is most likely to have the competence to solve problems in the Anthropocene? To what degree can multilateral and multipolar systems be harmonized? What are the implications for the 2030 Agenda?

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), also known as the “New Silk Road Initiative,” is a foreign policy concept of the Chinese government to integrate the economic areas of Asia (with China at the center), Europe, and Africa. In continuation of the strategies for the development of China’s western provinces (“Go West”) and the internationalization of Chinese companies (“Going out”), the Chinese government is focusing on investments in the construction of roads, rail lines, ports, and pipelines, among other things. The aim is to create the conditions for economic growth in less-developed countries in these regions, to open up new markets, and to strengthen economic, political, and cultural influence. Yet, the role of sustainability and the SDGs remains largely unanswered: While China is increasingly introducing climate instruments and sustainability standards in its own country, sustainability is still a blind spot in the development of the New Silk Road. Experts therefore are calling for the BRI and the SDGs to be aligned. Thus, China could take a lead on climate change.

Technologies for decarbonization are evolving rapidly. It is essential to ensure that international and domestic trade, as well as the regulatory environment, facilitate the rapid rollout of these technologies – including throughout the developing world. This requires exchange between trade and climate policymakers as well as the global business community. There are many opportunities available for trade policy to support climate action, but time is quickly running out. Rapid solutions should be implemented where they exist, and efforts to resolve the most complex trade and climate policy challenges must be accelerated. Now is the time for action!

Climate protection, minimum wages, human rights, sustainability – companies are increasingly confronted with society’s moral expectations and face the challenge of meeting them under the tough competitive conditions of a globalized world. Topics such as corporate governance and CSR are booming. But many companies still find it difficult to reflect such opportunities and risks in their traditional management structures. This is particularly evident in the example of “purpose.” This buzzword – which has been ascribed numerous definitions for a wide variety of communication messages in the wake of Fridays for Future, Generation Z, and the global climate crisis – has long since become a business driver. Without purpose, there is no progress – but promises are often made without firm integration into management processes. Nowadays, empty marketing messages are quickly exposed. What is communicated must also be experienced.