The Global Future Councils Network in Dubai

Today, technology, climate, and society all evolve in tandem and at the dawn of rapid technological change, the world sits at the crossroads of change. The Global Future Councils 2024 Annual Meeting (AMGFC24) is being hosted by the World Economic Forum in collaboration with the Government of Dubai and will serve as a lightning rod of progressive thought.

Taking place against the impressive backdrop of Dubai’s urban landscape, this event serves as a forum to power fundamental discussions about our shared global future by uniting thought leaders, policymakers and industry pioneers from around the globe. AMGFC24 provides a critical platform for stakeholders to explore emerging opportunities and to understand, and work towards a sustainable, inclusive future.

Setting the Stage: The Global Future Councils’ Role

Global Future Councils (GFC) act as think tanks intended to create and influence where the world’s biggest issues are going. The GFC brings together a variety of experts representing the technology, education, healthcare, energy, and many other sectors to jointly generate insights that make a difference for policymakers and industry leaders alike. It’s especially significant this year, as it will share recommendations for how to get sustainable growth and overcome future disruptions under the threat of continuing geopolitical uncertainties and climate challenges.

A wide range of themes, including digital transformation, climate resilience, economic prosperity and equitable access to healthcare and education will be featured in the 2024 agenda. These discussions will be expert led, covering these topics with case study, data, and actionable insights.

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Exploiting key themes to be investigated at AMGFC24

And as climate change intensifies, and global temperatures rise, resilience is no longer optional—resilience is essential. This will be the first GFC to address climate adaptation strategies and their development of a roadmap for governments and industries to build resilience against climate induced disruptions.

Recent case studies such as those featured by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) will fuel the discussions around community based adaptation strategies. Given that only 40 per cent of countries have established effective climate adaptation plans, AMGFC24, aims to bridge a large gap, a 2022 report from UNEP highlights.

Further, technology will be used to protect against the risks of climate change. AI powered monitoring systems to predict natural disasters, such blockchain applications to verify carbon credits will surely be presented as practical tools of building resilience.

The exponential growth of digital transformation opens more than ample opportunity for growth, but at the same time faces an ethical challenge. AMGFC24 will devote great effort in understanding how governments and organizations will navigate the fourth industrial revolution ethically and productively.

The focus of a key discussion will be on data privacy and digital inclusion, a tranche of ensure that technology progression doesn’t widen the gap between us. The World Bank has a report that looks at the number of people still disconnected from the internet as of 2023 – 2.7 billion people in the world. AMGFC24 seeks to bring together experts in tech policy to develop a framework that will help close the digital divide and allow the benefits of digital innovation to be available to a broader swath of the population.

Top emerging technologies as blockchain, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing are expected to be discussed with a special emphasis on the use of these technologies to further enhance public services, improve supply chain efficiencies, and achieve better transparency in governance. It will feature expert opinion about opportunities and challenges — such as the ethical dilemmas of AI — to foster a balanced view that will promote an informed policy making.

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Fair Healthcare for a Global Population

The global pandemic has woken us up to inequality in healthcare. And in AMGFC24, healthcare experts will share how the nations can join together to ensure universal and equitable access to healthcare. But a very likely case study to be showcased will be Rwanda’s use of drones for medical supply delivery, which has been effective in expanding healthcare to underserved areas.

It will also discuss innovative public-private partnerships designed to fill healthcare infrastructure gaps, in particular, in developing nations. In a new report from the World Health Organization, emphasizing that advancing healthcare systems in poor nations could protect millions of lives each year. AMGFC24 will provide a forum for working towards debunking the myths about the use of technology and partnerships to address the disparities.

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Inclusive Growth Economic Transformation

For some time, Dubai has been not just a symbol of economic transformation but also the perfect ground for conversations on how to achieve inclusive growth. Because SMEs constitute more than 90 percent of businesses around the world and are critical to creating jobs, one of the focal points will be enhancing the ability of the SMEs to thrive in the global economy.

Through use of recent successes, the event will provide practical tools for empowering women and underrepresented groups. As an example, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has experienced a meteoric rise of women led enterprises thanks to set financing and training programs, which the GFC hopes to grant on a far larger basis. The detailed workshops will include the use of systematized strategies to guide attendees to develop actionable insights to drive equity and inclusive economic participation.

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Takeaways: Shaping a Collective Future

Being more than an event AMGFC24 Dubai wants to be a force to shape a future collective, informed future. The GFC brings together thought leaders and decision makers in an environment that supports practical problem solving allowing stakeholders to define and move towards sustainable growth in alignment with their priorities.

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Key Recommendations for Stakeholders

Invest in Climate Resilience: While science moves forward, society must invest in both innovation and community driven solutions to modify climate adaptation strategies.

• Foster Digital Inclusion: The closing of the digital divide is a prerequisite for sustainable development. We should make efforts to provide affordable internet access, public policy for digital education and an equitable technology policy.
• Public-Private Healthcare Partnerships: To extend the range of healthcare access to under served regions, stakeholders should explore collaborations that involve the use of innovative technologies.
• Enable Inclusive Economic Growth: Support to SME’s and establishment of dedicated programs to promote inclusive prosperity for women and marginalized communities.

With all things in the future being collaborative, events like AMGFC24 celebrate the imparting of knowledge, resources and strategies. Following updates from the World Economic Forum, the AMGFC24 outcomes provide an opportunity for readers to engage and take actions in their communities and industries—such as those recommended above—to implement the recommendations. How would you create the best conditions for a sustainable future for everyone? Let us know what you think about this, join the conversation.

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References

1. World Economic Forum. The Global Future Councils and Their Impact on Policy Making. World Economic Forum, November 2023.
2. United Arab Emirates Government Media Office. Dubai Welcomes Visionary Leaders to Shape the Future at Global Future Councils Summit. UAE Government Media Office, October 2023.
3. Al Bastaki, Rania. Dubai’s Role in Driving Global Dialogue on Future Governance. Gulf News, October 15, 2023.
4. Dubai Media Office. Global Future Councils to Explore Solutions for the World’s Most Pressing Challenges. Dubai Media Office, October 2023.
5. Khaleej Times. How the Global Future Councils Are Shaping the Future from Dubai. Khaleej Times, October 2023.
6. Smith, John. Shaping Tomorrow: The Role of the Global Future Councils Network. Arabian Business, November 2023.