As it goes, this type of disruption has been good for industries across the world and we must embrace it as we strive to develop and grow our businesses in a challenging and fast-changing world.

Early this year, the anti-poverty charity Oxfam released a research report which showed that by 2016 1% of the world’s population will own more wealth than the other 99%. Winnie Byanyima the Executive Director Oxfam International launched a passionate campaign to help change the tide.

Scholars have long warned about the danger posed by such large unemployed youth populations. The Arab Spring, which toppled long-serving regimes in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya, was partly conditioned by lack of employment opportunities for young people. A World Bank survey in 2011 showed that about 40% of those who join rebel movements say they are motivated by a lack of jobs.

Society is increasingly becoming divided, not necessarily between blacks, whites or Muslims and Christians, but primarily between the rich and poor. And this is a threat to the very future of humanity.

One the ways young people can lead on this is to be active participants in the political processes wherever they are. Unfortunately, voter apathy around the globe has steadily increased in recent decades and is particularly apparent in the youngest voter demographic.

The effects on our economy and continent from greenhouse gas emissions and other forms of pollution and resource depletion are becoming increasingly clear. By going green, construction firms can not only survive, but also thrive in this new economic and environmental climate. The new competitive advantage will be and, in many cases already is, ‘eco-advantage’ or green business.