It’s just a glorious morning here in Davos. The sky is dark blue, the sun shining high in the sky and the snow is deep. It’s like a picture postcard and people are rushing off to ski.

It’s such a difference from earlier in the week when the snow was absent and there was talk of gloom for the tourist industry and real concern about the
changing climate.

Delegates at the World Economic Forum pushed climate to the top of the agenda but rather like the sunshine there is a genuine feeling of cautious optimism
between delegates of all sectors. Everyone agrees that action is urgently needed and there is a commitment from business and government leaders to put
into practice what they are preaching.

The message that the planet has finite resources and our behaviour is affecting everything really deeply has finally sunk in. It seems that the leaders will
act immediately and that what’s causing this sense of optimism. Many deleagtes speak of this being the best annual meeting for many years.

Tony Blair’s keynote address from yesterday was well received. He seemed relaxed in his delivery and his words about the tasks ahead made absolute sense. He spoke like a real international statesman with a grasp of the global agenda.

If only he hadn’t embarked on that mad adventure in Iraq with George Bush then he would be regarded as the leader of this generation, remarked one delegate from the USA over coffee afterwards. It will be interesting to see where Blair goes  when he leaves office later this year but many people at Davos would like to see him play the role of international statesman and leader on the globalstage – maybe a little like the role Bill Clinton currently plays.

Asking a question for the floor another delagate praised his efforts forencouraging and supporting multi faith dialogue amongst the religious leaders. He caused much laughter by claiming that if Blair hadn’t been Prime Ministerhe’s have made a very good cleric!

As the tables are packed away and the vast security arrangements are taken down, Davos is returning to normal. Let’s hope that the wave of optimism turns into action and that next year delegates can talk about what plans have been implemented during 2007 and what’s planned ahead. The snow of course is
guaranteed next year – let’s just hope that the plans being laid now mean that the climate remains secure and that Davos retains its picture postcard
landscape with white snow all around for decades to come.

Mel Young – President and CEO, The Homeless World Cup