US President Donald Trump and Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg will both attend the World Economic Forum (WEF) next week, stirring up a heightened sense of intrigue in the Swiss Alpine town of Davos.
The 50th edition of the annual January get-together which draws policymakers and business leaders from around the world is scheduled to focus on the intensifying climate crisis.
Trump is set to travel to the picturesque ski resort after skipping the conference last year due to the partial government shutdown. The U.S. president, who is likely to be one of the star attractions of the event, has often expressed skepticism about the scale of the climate crisis.
Since coming to power in 2016, Trump has pulled the U.S. one of the world’s leading carbon emitters out of the Paris Agreement and sought to roll back over 80 environmental regulations.
His much-anticipated return to Davos will mark the first time he has attended the same event as Thunberg since the pair briefly crossed paths at the United Nations (UN) climate change summit in New York last year.
In a widely-shared video on social media, Thunberg could be seen glaring at Trump as he addressed reporters.
to hold a weekly vigil outside Swedish parliament in 2018, was recently named Time Magazine’s Person of the Year for 2019.
She was recognized for the award after sparking an international wave of school strikes also known as Fridays for Future. Millions of children took part in rallies around the world to protest against political inaction over climate change.
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