The general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC), the Rev Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, has urged global leaders to act ‘now’ to tackle worsening global inequality.

Dr Tveit participated in the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland in January. Speaking on January 20, the day that Donald Trump was inaugurated President of the USA, Dr Tveit said: “If global leadership is to be responsive and responsible, it must put inequality at the top of its agenda, it must tackle inequality in tangible ways, and it must do so now.

“The problem of inequality is related to deep structures of difference and division related to class, race, gender and more. What we do know for sure is that it is not true that all children are born with the same possibilities, and particularly not in a country like the USA, where this has been a slogan so often.

“On the day of the inauguration of the 45th President of the USA, elected by the strong support of those who are afraid of losing their white superiority and privilege, there are many who wonder what the new administration of the most powerful nation will do in this respect.

“This is the time to give a clear message from all sectors of US society and in the whole world that neither the USA nor the world at large need more separation, more gaps, more people left behind, or excluded from the economic development. It will increase the risks for all.”