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Hey - I’m Alex Wood, Forbes’ European Editor. Thanks for signing up.

Our world’s undergoing huge change right now—and my goal is to keep you ahead of the game.

This newsletter is made in London, proudly European, and globally curious. Every Saturday I’ll send you a tight edit of Forbes’ trends across entrepreneurship, tech, sustainability and more.

And because it’s the weekend, I’ll also share my favourite podcasts, books and shows along with thought-provoking events and horizon-expanding restaurant recommendations. In other words:

The Memo is for people who believe the future starts today.

You might recognize the name. In 2015 I became an entrepreneur, launching The Memo as an online magazine and newsletter covering the cutting edge of tech. We became known for our human-first take on the fast-evolving world around us and three years later, Forbes acquired the business.

Today we face new challenges. Our politics is a mess, every international flight feels like a threat to our planet and we no longer trust our tech.

Despite this, I’m an optimist. I believe that small changes add up to a big difference. That’s why I’ve chosen to bring The Memo newsletter back. To champion the sharpest thinkers and the most effective doers. To call for a more inclusive world. And to share smart ways to live better, every day - both at work and at home.

Thanks for joining us. And please - hit reply and let me know what you think.

Big money goes green

As you read this the global elites are boarding their private jets to Davos, the premier networking hub for the world’s wealthiest.

Ahead of the forum, Larry Fink, the CEO of BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager, said something that caught my eye:

“We are on the edge of a fundamental reshaping of finance.”

We're all tired of reading grandiose statements from CEOs. But this one had bite and came with a shock change in strategy. BlackRock will now stop investing in coal and start voting against the c-suites that aren't taking climate change seriously.

With Greta Thunberg making her Davos debut next week too, the message is clear: the world's leaders can no longer afford to ignore climate change. It looks like BlackRock CEO Larry Fink's prediction might just come true.

Steve & Moira Forbes, along with Forbes' Chief Content Officer Randall Lane and CEO Mike Federle will be at this year's forum. We'll also be sharing updates throughout the week @ForbesEurope on Twitter.

5 things we learned

France took another swing at the tech giants. Macron's government reaffirmed its planned 3% tax on revenues earned in France in a move that will likely anger Apple, Microsoft and Google. Look out for Trump's reaction on Twitter this weekend.

Visa is spending $5.3 billion on a San-Francisco-based startup. Plaid connects the old banking world to the new, by moving money from traditional accounts into bitcoin and app-based banks. Plaid's founders have been featured on Forbes' Under 30 list.

Millennials are getting cut out of the inheritance. Baby boomers are sitting on a whopping $30 trillion worth of wealth. Instead of passing the spoils down, wealth managers have spotted a new trend towards charitable giving. Could this be the end of the trust fund kid?

Nestlé is putting its money where its mouth is. The Swiss food giant will spend up to $2.1 billion to tackle plastic waste and research sustainable packaging for its products.

'Nakation' is the next big travel trend. Good news for travellers who hate tan lines and feeling overdressed, naked holidays are booming in popularity across Europe. Check carefully before you book your next trip.

The good

Putin could stay in power forever. After two decades at the top, Vladimir Putin shocked the world with his plans to change the country's constitution to keep him in power. One to watch this month.

The bad

Putin could stay in power forever. After two decades at the top, Vladimir Putin shocked the world with his plans to change the country's constitution to keep him in power. One to watch this month.

Do this

Taste the future at International Green Week. With almost 2,000 exhibitors, IGW is a unique showcase of food, sustainability and future farming. Come for the produce, stay for the beer. Tickets from $17. Messe Berlin, Messedamm 22, Berlin, Germany.

Got an event coming up?

Know about an event our community should hear about? Let us know and we'll include it next week.

Watch

This is what Greta was talking about. Ragnarok, a Netflix thriller from Norway, is a coming-of-age story that tackles the effects of climate change on a small Norwegian village with plot points straight out of Norse mythology. Worldwide on Netflix.

Listen

The Council on Foreign Relations puts out a surprisingly entertaining podcast. Every week Why It Matters breaks down an interesting issue that could change our world in the future— from overprescribing antibiotics to the possibility of space conflict. Free to listen worldwide.

Read

Understand the startups that changed the way we buy products forever. Billion Dollar Brand Club is the story of how companies like Casper Mattresses and Dollar Shave Club changed the game in consumer marketing. From $11, Henry Holt and Co.

Download

Netflix et Chill. For the lazy language learners among us: a Google Chrome extension gives users the option to watch Netflix with subtitles in multiple languages at once, perfect for following along with foreign films. Free.

Taste

Worship at the 'House of Cod'. Set inside the former stables of a Portuguese palace, Lisbon's A Casa do Bacalhau is a temple to all things cod, serving up the best fish fritters in town. Rua do Grilo 54, 1900-706 Lisbon, Portugal.