Pokemon Go adds 17 pokestops to the World Economic Forum in Davos to combat poverty

The World Economic Forum in Davos is SXSW for the 1 percent. It’s where the rich, famous, and powerful go to mingle, drink Krug, and talk about the challenges facing the future.

And if you happen to spot Henry Kissinger or John Kerry wandering the streets of Davos, staring at their phones, I’ve got an idea why: Niantic is launching 17 new Pokestops, in recognition of the 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development.

These lofty goals include affordable and clean energy, gender equality, zero hunger, and climate action.

In addition, the event’s Congress center will be turned into a gym, where we’ll find out if Bono is Team Instinct, Team Valor, or Team Mystic.

John Hanke, founder of Niantic, said “We’ve always wanted both Niantic and Pokémon GO to be a force for good in the world. We are extremely proud to partner with the Global Goals campaign to help remind people of how critically important the Goals are while hopefully keeping the world’s leaders focused on delivering on them.”

Some of the attendees are enthusiastic, also. Richard Curtis, maker of such truly crap films like Love Actually and About Time said “This partnership with Niantic & The Pokémon Company International with the massively popular game, Pokémon GO, is a great way of making sure the Goals are front of mind with the Davos attendees, who are such an important constituency in delivering on the promise of the Goals.”

“And it’s excellent to be able to report back home on a partnership my sons all understand and are excited by – their generation is also so crucial to the achievement of the SDGs,” he added.

This is a nice idea, but let me put my cynical cap on: This is unlikely to change anything. Most people who attend Davos are old, curmudgeonely statesmen and entrepreneurs. Hardly the target audience for Pokemon Go.