Presentations and round tables on ethics and science, ethics and governance and environmental uncertainty covered the most pressing questions related to biodiversity and climate change.

UNESCO: Social and Human Sciences

Building new pipeline infrastructure is time consuming and involves a lot of uncertainty due to regulatory approvals and scrutiny from environmental groups.

FORBES: Kinder Morgan Doubles Down On Shale With Copano Acquisition

Environmentalists worry that this drilling boom, and efforts to expand drilling even further not only in the Gulf but also in the Arctic waters off Alaska, where technical problems and regulatory uncertainty are hampering oil companies threaten to spawn another environmental disaster.

WSJ: Should the U.S. Expand

After years of financial uncertainty, a rise in concern levels about multiple social and environmental issues, not to mention a fraying of trust in organizations both public and private, these ultimate brand advocates must do what all smart and successful brand managers do: Ensure that people know what makes their brands different in ways that matter to consumers and other corporate stakeholders.

FORBES: Is Davos The New "Crossroads" Of the World?

Further complicating the picture for all of these rival energy sources is uncertainty about what kind of new carbon regulations might come from Congress and the Environmental Protection Agency.

WSJ: Daniel Yergin on the Shale Gas Revolution: Stepping on the Gas

"Up until now, there has been complete uncertainty on the numbers and area of glaciers and the present status of their environmental conditions in the region, " said Basanta Shrestha from Icimod.

BBC: Climate research bolsters 'action' call to UN talks