WEF26: Where two visions collide
29/01/2026
Dear Planetary Steward,
At the World Economic Forum in Davos last week, while President Trump championed a fossil-fuelled future which threatens global equity and security, our network rose with an alternative vision. In a powerful speech organized with Earth4All, Earth Commission, Planetary Guardians and We Don’t Have Time, scientists, economists and business leaders called for a rapid transition to a global economy that serves both people and the planet. Sandrine Dixson-Declève, Executive Chair, Earth4All, said President Trump’s vision “hordes prosperity for the few and is contributing to a world that is less safe, and less stable for the majority” – and urged leaders to regard a stable planet as a “lasting opportunity for security, peace and prosperity for all.” Paul Polman, co-founder of IMAGINE and former CEO of Unilever, said: “Nature is not separate from the economy. It sits at its heart. It determines whether a business can operate at all. Whether supply chains hold. Whether communities are stable. And whether growth can be sustained over time.”
The future is contested and it’s vital that our movement responds and projects our own vision at times like these, and we celebrate this collaboration. Please watch the speech in full on Linkedin – and do share the post with your networks.
The speech followed an open letter from scientists and economists including from Future Earth, The B Team and Planetary Guardians, calling for ”serious leadership” at WEF to reject failing fossil-fuelled systems and align economic activity with Safe and Just boundaries – and achieve “a shared prosperity path that transforms wealth into wellbeing”. Science was also firmly at the center of Arctic Basecamp’s busy program at WEF, which included the launch of Climate Basecamp’s MonkeyRock, a striking sculpture which helped put nature action at the heart of Davos, with speakers including Colin Butfield, Co-founder and Director, Open Planet.
The opening of Climate Hub Davos, which was co-hosted by Climate Bridges and GreenUp Switzerland, brought together voices from finance, policy, business and indigenous leadership and you can rewatch here. Nature Positive Initiative premièred its new film ‘Becoming Nature Positive‘, following an inspiring panel discussion. With planetary boundaries presented in the main forum as well as side events, at WEF, Alliance members and partners demonstrated what collaboration for a just world on a safe planet truly looks like.
But while Davos captured headlines last week, historic progress unfolded elsewhere. After 20 years of negotiations, the High Seas Treaty entered into force on January 17, creating the first legally binding international agreement to protect marine life in international waters. This landmark treaty addresses overfishing, pollution, and fills critical gaps in ocean governance. The same week, the UK government’s security assessment on biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse was (finally) published and reveals direct threats to national security and prosperity from crop failures, intensified disasters, and disease outbreaks. Thanks to ‘Freedom Of Information’ requests forcing its release, this critical recognition — though postponed — marks an important step toward understanding climate inaction’s true cost.
As WEF’s own Global Risks Report also warns, in the next 10 years environmental risks remain the most severe risks highlighted by the WEF community, despite being overshadowed by geopolitical concerns in the media. As GCA’s members and wider community know, we can’t afford to delay action any longer. As we hurtle into 2026, the momentum toward systems change continues. Our Alliance is growing, and we’re welcoming new members who share our commitment to a just, sustainable future. Does your organization share that vision? Do you know organizations that should join us? Connect them with us today. Together, we’re turning that alternative vision into reality — one collaboration at a time.
With all our best, Will Tucker, Co-Director (Communications and Resource Mobilization) Sebastian Schienle, Co-Director (Partnerships and Programs)
Subscribe now and read the rest of our bi-weekly newsletter, including news from across the Alliance.
