Focal issues of sustainable development presented by the World Economic Forum 2024
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School of Business |
Master's thesis
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Date
2024
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Mcode
Degree programme
mib
Language
en
Pages
66 + 35
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Abstract
This thesis critically examines how the World Economic Forum (WEF) presents the focal sustainable development issues in its public discourse. Employing a mixed-method approach, combining structural topic modelling and critical discourse analysis, the research analyzes the WEF's website, including its strategic intelligence platform, and scrutinizes discussions from its 2024 Annual Meeting, with focus on the track "Long Term Strategy for Climate, Nature and Energy." The analysis reveals that while the WEF acknowledges the urgency of addressing climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, its framing of sustainable development remains tethered to dominant economic paradigms and a techno-centric worldview. Despite recognizing the interconnectedness of environmental and social challenges and advocating for a systemic shift toward restorative practices, the WEF often prioritizes "green growth" narratives, technological solutions, and market-based mechanisms, potentially overlooking the limits of these approaches. Tensions arise between the WEF's stated commitment to equal access and inclusion and its focus on economic pragmatism, potentially marginalizing the rights and perspectives of vulnerable communities and non-human stakeholders. Furthermore, the WEF's reliance on technological innovation, while presenting opportunities, also raises concerns about techno-solutionism and its potential to exacerbate existing inequalities or create new ones. This thesis argues that the WEF's focal issues of sustainable development, while demonstrating a growing awareness of the complexities of the issues, ultimately falls short of embracing a truly transformative approach. By critically analyzing the limitations and contradictions within the WEF's discourse, this research highlights the need for a more holistic, eco-centric, and socially just paradigm for achieving a sustainable future, and presents water as a potential focal point for implementing sustainable development across sectors.Description
Thesis advisor
Moisander, JohannaKeywords
sustainable development, ecosystems, governance for sustainability, triple planetary crisis