Dear Valued Stakeholders,

2023 was the hottest year ever recorded, underscoring the grim reality that the era of global warming has transitioned into what United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres aptly termed as the “era of global boiling”. Our planet is literally burning up and drowning, and the rate of biodiversity loss is deeply worrying.

War and violence, widening inequality and deepening polarisation pose major challenges worldwide, threatening lives and livelihoods. We are living in what some have described as the Age of Disruption. This is an era of extreme uncertainty where change is the only thing we can be certain about.

While there are practical realities that need to be addressed in overcoming these challenges, it deeply troubles me to witness the levels of stupidity, arrogance and greed that make the problems even worse. I think a bit of smarter thinking, humility and compassion can go a long way in overcoming the challenges we face.

Even in these deeply troubled times, I strongly believe that humanity can and will rise to overcome these challenges. We simply must have the courage to take the necessary steps to build a future that is economically just, socially inclusive and environmentally sustainable for our world