Climate change ‘overtakes’ pandemic as #1 global concern

Despite avoiding nuclear obliteration, this report shows that a mere 3.7% of respondents are optimistic about the outlook for the world for 2022 and beyond.

Of this pool of experts, mostly economists were represented with 44% of them hailing from Europe. Given this, it’s no surprise to hear that projected financial disruptions are a big factor in growing anxieties.

When you combine geopolitical tensions with the issue of ‘vaccine inequality’ –  whilst bearing in mind that developing countries are relying on financing to recover from the impacts of climate change – it goes without saying that serious conservations need to be had.

This is made all the more frustrating by the fact Davos 2022 has been delayed until the summer, due to the relentless spread of the Omicron variant. On all fronts, it seems, the pandemic continues to widen the gulf between the developed and developing world.

‘Health and economic disruptions are compounding social cleavages,’ said WEF managing director Saadia Zahidi.

‘This is creating tensions at a time when collaboration within societies and among the international community will be fundamental to ensure a more even and rapid global recovery.’

It’s truly tiresome when consuming daily news feels more like an exercise in self-sabotaging our mental health, but unfortunately this is just where we’re at. When it comes to finding existential reasons to be anxious, frankly, we’re spoilt for choice in 2022.

Memes about 2020 becoming a dark sequel really have come to fruition.