Desmond Tutu: Time to close the gap

In a statement for the World Economic Forum, Desmond Tutu calls for a global shift toward equity, defined as equal opportunity and access to basic services. He warns that growing income inequality and the vulnerability of the poorest to climate change threaten global stability, advocating for the needs of marginalized groups to be centered in international discourse.

• While global health, life expectancy, and the gap between rich and poor nations have improved, there has been a simultaneous sharp increase in income inequality, where the wealthy continue to accumulate wealth while others stagnate or decline.
• The author defines equity as fairness and equal opportunity, specifically regarding access to healthcare, education, decent work, and fair wages, rather than absolute equality of outcome.
• The document asserts that the poorest populations are the most severely affected by the impacts of climate change, contributing to a global rift that increases societal stress, unhappiness, and violence.
• The author argues that global stability and prosperity for all are dependent on creating a more equitable world, citing the concept of ubuntu to emphasize the interdependence of humanity in an era of globalisation.

APA

Tutu, D. (2012). Desmond Tutu: Time to close the gap. World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/stories/education-and-skills/davos-2012-time-to-close-the-gap/

Chicago

Tutu, Desmond. Desmond Tutu: Time to close the gap. World Economic Forum, 2012. https://www.weforum.org/stories/education-and-skills/davos-2012-time-to-close-the-gap/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Tutu |first1=Desmond |title=Desmond Tutu: Time to close the gap |publisher=World Economic Forum |date=25 January 2012 |url=https://www.weforum.org/stories/education-and-skills/davos-2012-time-to-close-the-gap/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{tutu2012desmond, author = {Tutu, Desmond}, title = {{Desmond Tutu: Time to close the gap}}, publisher = {World Economic Forum}, year = {2012}, month = jan, url = {https://www.weforum.org/stories/education-and-skills/davos-2012-time-to-close-the-gap/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }