The consequences of Covid will be on the shoulders of the new generations

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January 19, 2021To talk about burnt youth, perhaps it is a bit too much, but it is certain that leafing through the pages of the report of the Global Risks 2021 of the World Economic Forum, the scenario looks like this.

Young people will be excluded from the opportunities of the next decade.

It will be a disillusioned youth.

The report underlines how for 15 years the alarm about the risks associated with any pandemic has been ignored, which is affecting, better still, with a 360-degree global crisis, on businesses, work and above all on the younger generations.

The disparities

The WEF warns that the pandemic risks first of all widening the inequality of being able to use technologies and having digital skills, and this in the future could "put social cohesion into question".

In fact, the effects will be paid by "young people from all over the world in particular, because they are facing a global crisis, which could exclude them from the opportunities of the next decade".

A fragile geopolitics

"In 2020 - reads the report - we have seen the effects of ignoring preparation and ignoring long-term risks", adding that "the Covid-19 pandemic has not only caused millions of victims, but has also widened long-standing health, economic and digital disparities. "

But in addition to the impact on new generations, the Geneva institute underlines how the financial, digitalization and reputation difficulties deriving from Covid-19 also threaten the persistence on the market of many companies and their workforce, creating inequalities that could cause a further "fragmentation of society".

While a geopolitical perspective "increasingly tense and fragile will also hinder the global recovery if the medium-sized powers do not have a place at the global table".

The short, medium and long term

risks The short term dangers, ie within 2 years, would be the spread of infectious diseases, employment crises, the digital divide and the disillusionment of young people.

In the medium term, from 3 to 5 years the bursting of financial bubbles, the collapse of IT infrastructures, price instability and the debt crisis are worrying.

While in the long term, from 5 to 10 years, the threats deriving from weapons of mass destruction, collapse of the state and loss of biodiversity, such as the advancement of technologies dangerous to humans, are feared.

The lesson of 2020

"In 2020, the risk of a global pandemic has become a reality, which this report has highlighted since 2006. We know how difficult it is for governments, businesses and other stakeholders to address these risks in the long term, but the lesson here is that we all need to recognize that ignoring them doesn't make them any less likely, ”said Saadia Zahidi, CEO of the World Economic Forum.

Building to respond to shocks

"As governments, businesses and societies begin to emerge from the pandemic, they now urgently need to shape new economic and social systems that improve our collective resilience and our ability to respond to shocks, reduce inequalities, improve health and protecting the planet, "continues Zahidi, concluding:" To help address this challenge, next week's event, The Davos Agenda, will mobilize global leaders to shape the principles, policies and partnerships needed in this new context ".