It’s a funny thing, isn’t it? We’re standing here, right now, and yet our minds often drift to what’s next. The question “hablamos en el 2028” – shall we talk in 2028? – isn't just about scheduling a future chat; it’s about envisioning the world we’ll inhabit then. What will have shifted? What challenges will we have overcome, and what new ones will have emerged?
Thinking back to late 2021, the world was grappling with the profound impact of a global pandemic. Finance & Development magazine, in its December issue, was already diving deep into how this crisis had forced us to rethink everything – from international cooperation and public health systems to the very definition of a healthy society. They explored the intricate dance between health and the economy, and the urgent need to protect our collective well-being. It was a moment of reckoning, pushing us to consider how to prevent such widespread suffering from happening again.
Then, just a few months later, in September 2021, the focus sharpened on another existential threat: climate change. In collaboration with COP26, F&D brought together a chorus of voices – academics, policymakers, business leaders, and young activists – all underscoring the critical urgency of climate action. The discussions weren't just about the problems; they were about tangible solutions, about how investments in infrastructure and technological innovation, fueled by a dynamic private sector, could unlock immense job creation and growth. The idea of credible carbon pricing policies and sector-specific approaches, like those for aviation fuel, started gaining serious traction. It felt like a turning point, a collective push towards a greener future.
And what about the vast, dynamic engine of emerging markets? The June 2021 edition of F&D turned its gaze towards these economies, those crucial players in the global financial system. It acknowledged their diversity – not a monolithic bloc, but a varied landscape of sizes, growth rates, and unique challenges. Some, like China and the Philippines, were showing remarkable resilience in navigating the immediate aftermath of the crisis, while others faced a longer road to recovery. The pace of recovery, it was clear, was uneven, impacting different sectors, age groups, genders, and skill levels in distinct ways.
So, as we project ourselves to 2028, these threads weave together. We’ve likely seen further evolution in how we approach global health crises, hopefully with more robust international frameworks and better-funded health systems. The momentum on climate action, spurred by the urgency felt in 2021, will have hopefully translated into significant policy shifts and technological advancements, reshaping industries and economies. Emerging markets, having navigated the post-pandemic recovery, will continue to be central to global economic stability and growth, perhaps with new models of development and resilience.
Perhaps by 2028, our conversations will be less about if we can cooperate and more about how we are effectively doing it. We might be discussing the tangible outcomes of the climate policies debated years prior, or the new frontiers of innovation driven by necessity. The economic landscape will undoubtedly have shifted, with emerging economies playing an even more prominent role. It’s a future built on the foundations of the challenges and opportunities we’re grappling with today, a testament to our capacity to learn, adapt, and strive for a better tomorrow. The conversations we have now, the decisions we make, are the seeds of that 2028 reality.
