WEF 2026: risks identified, solutions pending

Is there anything left to gain from the WEF after Trump spoiled the party? If we are to believe the headlines, the 2026 edition, despite being entitled ‘A Spirit of Dialogue’, mainly highlights the geopolitical insecurity that is cruelly imposing itself on us.

However, given its mission, Angestellte Schweiz cannot ignore the event. The Economic Forum is more than just an opportunity for the major powers to argue over Greenland. Funded by more than 1,000 member companies, the non-profit organisation has been in existence since 1971 with the aim of ‘improving the state of the world’.

In keeping with its very liberal vocation, it offers a series of annual conferences on current issues centred on global economic development. It is therefore with an open mind that we have explored the programme and summarised the relevant points for you, in relation to the issues we defend.

1. A worrying future

Each Forum coincides with the publication of the new Global Risk Report, a detailed report on the perception of risks on a global scale. The survey, conducted among 1,300 experts, predicts that the next decade will be marked by pressure on the multilateral system. In this context, the greatest risks relate to geo-economic confrontations, armed conflicts, natural disasters, social polarisation and disinformation. The top 10 also includes the consequences of technologies such as AI and digital insecurity.

Thus, 50% of those surveyed believe that the next two years will be turbulent, even stormy; if we look ahead ten years, this figure rises to 57%. This latent pessimism is heavily influenced by the upheaval in the global geopolitical order. Increasingly, countries are following their own path and balancing their relationships according to their personal interests.

We are therefore witnessing a decline in trust, a weakening of transparency and respect for the rule of law, and the rise of protectionism. This threatens long-standing international relations, trade and investment.

2. AI: between idealism and concern

Focus on AI, which has taken a prominent place in discussions: in just a few years, it has gone from being a cutting-edge technology to a real force shaping the economy, society and security. As such, 86% of companies worldwide expect it to transform their business models by 2030.

Some predict a positive impact on the labour market, with an increase of 78 million jobs worldwide by 2030. A more pessimistic view suggests that it could eliminate up to 50% of white-collar jobs over the next five years, particularly among those with little experience.

Other risks of massive and uncontrolled AI development include rising inequality, information chaos, a major energy crisis, and an erosion of professional identity or the meaning of work.

How are experts responding to these issues? As expected, the directors of large firms such as Microsoft and Google Deep Mind present this technology as the salvation of the world, assuring us that it will drastically improve our healthcare systems, public services and the economy. In addition, it would offer significant tools to less-skilled workers, enabling them to compensate for their lack of skills.

Concerns mainly relate to the speed of progress: every new technology leads to the disappearance of certain jobs, and people need to retrain to adapt. However, the time needed to develop new skills is longer than the pace of technological progress. It is therefore the transition that proves problematic. Yet for AI leaders, there is no question of slowing down, especially as Chinese competitors are also in the race.

It is therefore essential to involve workers in the development process. In addition, there needs to be ongoing dialogue between businesses and training institutions. The speed of change creates a very real risk that people embarking on several years of training will accumulate knowledge that is already obsolete by the time they enter the job market.

3. Ecological transition and leadership

The Global Risk Report 2026 shows that the fight against pollution and biodiversity have fallen down the list of major concerns, while extreme weather events are on the rise. The cause: the geopolitical insecurity that now prevails. But despite some controversy and positions in favour of fossil fuels, the WEF has confirmed sustainability as an essential element of credible leadership.

According to the report ‘Already a Multi-Trillion-Dollar Market: CEO Guide to Growth in the Green Economy’, nature-friendly economic models could generate up to $10 trillion in additional value per year by 2030. This allows us to move beyond the vision of an inevitable and assertive opposition between economic growth and environmental protection.

The financialisation of the transition is another key focus. Davos 2026 emphasises private capital investment. The objectives mentioned include mobilising $1.3 trillion annually by 2035 and tripling funding for adaptation through public-private partnerships.

As with employability, AI can be both a brake and an accelerator for the transition. The amount of energy required to power AI programmes angers climate advocates. At the same time, it can optimise energy networks, make infrastructure more resilient and improve climate risk management. It is also being used to promote biodiversity and disaster prevention.

From theory to practice?

This edition of the WEF confirms that in the current world configuration, the risks are real and the intentions noble, but the solutions put forward during the conferences still need to be implemented in practice. On most issues, the Forum produces a coherent and inspiring narrative, but its concrete implementation remains largely dependent on the will of the dominant players.

Thus, while employees are encouraged to train in AI, businesses and policy makers must also take action to ensure that no one is left behind. Furthermore, environmental issues cannot be addressed solely from the perspective of profitability, but must also take into account social justice and non-market societal needs.

Finally, Forum 2026 confirmed that geopolitical conflicts are currently at the forefront of the news. While developments in this area are directly linked to the future of the labour market, individuals' concerns about their professional future must not be overlooked. Together, let us seek solutions for a brighter future than that predicted by the Global Risk Report. And this can only be achieved through dialogue.