DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) – Often seen as the preserve of old, rich men, this year’s World Economic Forum has thrust around a dozen teenage “change-makers” to the top of its agenda, adding fresh voices, energy and fashion to proceedings.
The first panel of the four-day Alpine gathering made clear the shift from 81-year-old founder Klaus Schwab, with four young activists, including Sweden’s Greta Thunberg, discussing how to forge “A Sustainable Path towards a Common Future”.
The combined age of the panel, which included water, electricity and health activists from Zambia, Puerto Rico and Canada, was 64 — younger than many of those in the audience.
“Davos elite being rebuked by their future customers,” Isabel Hilton, chief executive of China Dialogue, said on Twitter.
For Thunberg, now a familiar face globally, the transition from campaigner to participant has been rapid. A year ago she was leading protests at Davos as well as speaking, warning the world that “the house is on fire”.
This year she is taking part in several high-profile panels, including delivering a speech shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump spoke. Trump has ridiculed her in the past and glancingly referred to her as a “prophet of doom” on Tuesday.
