insights.

We have to rethink our fashion industry because it has a direct impact on our ecosystem. Microplastic pollution puts marine life in danger as they end up absorbing microfibers found on our clothes. A whole industry must be changed.

By 2050 the global population is projected to reach 9.7 billion, which means that we need to rethink how we’re treating and distributing our resources. Food and water scarcities are already a reality in many parts of the world; in future it will become essential for countries to produce, recycle and distribute these resources in innovative ways

Personalised learning technology can liberate students from a one-size-fits-all curriculum, but what role can investment play in building the new era of education?

According to Jean-Claude Junker, President of the European Commission, we would need around four planets to maintain our current lifestyle. Unfortunately, we only have one. And when you consider that the global population is expected to grow by another three billion people over the next thirty years, we clearly have a very big problem.

Wedged in between a toasted brioche bun with thick slices of red onion and tomato, the Beyond Meat burger looks like a respectable staple at a diner. Likewise Gardein's Crispy Tenders have the look and feel of breaded crispy chicken, golden brown on the outside with a crunch to the bite.

The age of radical digital personalisation is here, and it’s changing the way we consume. But don’t bet your house on it.

Next year will mark the 50^th anniversary of Neil Armstrong becoming the first man to walk on the moon, making history before an audience of some 530 million people. Since then, and even by those remarkable standards, space exploration has come a long way. Countless satellites and unmanned probes have been launched into orbit, NASA's Curiosity rover vehicle has been sending back images from Mars and the idea of space tourism is increasingly realistic.

In terms of capital, millennials are coming of age, and with them comes different attitudes, philosophies and priorities. How can the investment universe adapt to their needs, and what kind of opportunities will millennials themselves offer?

Technology is not just a disruptor. It’s now forming the foundation of our society and changing the worldwide landscape 

The big topic so far at this year’s World Economic Forum is the ‘Fourth Revolution’, essentially the digitalisation of our world. Whether it’s Narendra Modi’s comments that data is the biggest asset today, and that it creates the biggest challenges and the biggest opportunities, or Anne Richards’ suggestion that information infrastructure could be the source of the next systemic crisis, all eyes are focussed on the impact digitalisation is likely to have on our societies and our economies.

I’m very pleased to see and hear that the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are being adopted as a standard by political, economic and societal stakeholders. This is important not just because it enables a commonality of language and understanding, but also because that, in turn, can be a powerful force for change. 

Yesterday evening I went back to school. I sat in on a session hosted by the University of Chicago, where I studied, which raised some very interesting questions about how to shape the digital world so it develops in a safe, inclusive way, and how to teach tomorrow’s thinkers to adapt.

The World Economic Forum wrapped up last Friday. The annual gathering is always a source of reflection, stimulation and inspiration and this year was certainly an opportunity to Create a Shared Future in a Fractured World. With over 400 sessions on the official programme, it would be impossible to provide you with a comprehensive recap of everything that happened.

Article published in Le Temps, July 9, 2018
Patrick Odier, Senior Managing Partner, Lombard Odier Group