Environmental Actions Growing

In order to effectively address climate and sustainability goals, it is crucial to consider the design of technology, packaging, and legislation in the coming years. When outlining and pursuing environmental goals, the behaviors and relationships between communities and nations influence the success of any party in achieving their objectives. These relationships can either accelerate the need for climate-driven transitions, independence, and resiliency or impede the accomplishment of these goals. Cooperation and collaboration among individuals, corporations, associations, and policymakers are necessary to achieve impactful and timely environmental actions.

Economic incentives can play a significant role in driving shifts towards sustainable behaviors, but efficiency and effectiveness must also be prioritized to avoid further harm to resources and increased energy demands. Businesses can reap economic benefits from embracing sustainability, but consumer willingness to pay a premium for sustainable goods is a determining factor. While the increasing environmental awareness is generating demand for eco-friendly products, it is essential to ensure that these solutions are efficient and effective to avoid resource depletion and heightened energy demands.

Governments and legislation often serve as bottlenecks for environmental actions, hindering meaningful climate action. Despite climate change being recognized as a critical issue, voters and politicians alike often lack the necessary commitment. Governments need to prioritize meaningful climate action through long-term planning, favorable policies, and support for innovative solutions, which can contribute to resilience and financial stability in the face of climate change.

Future Scenarios and Implications for the Industry by World Economic Forum presents three potential future scenarios and their implications for industries: 1.) Building in a virtual world; 2.) Factories run the world; 3.) A green reboot. These scenarios explore different paths of technological advancement, social changes, and environmental challenges. As climate change is identified as a key environmental challenge, the report highlights the need for the industry to make climate related moves.

The Future of Housing: Policy Scenarios by OECD uses projections of drivers such as population, income, and interest rates to create scenarios for residential investment and house prices through 2050. Decarbonizing housing is a key theme in the report.

Non-ferrous Metals Manufacturing: Vision for 2050 and Actions Needed by the European Commission Joint Research Centre followed a participatory and qualitative approach in this foresight study, involving representatives from the industry, research institutions, policymakers, trade unions, and stakeholders from both upstream and downstream sectors. The study aimed to establish a long-term vision for the industry by 2050 and propose specific actions for the industry, policymakers, and other stakeholders to address the sector's challenges related to trade, competition, innovation, resources, business integrity, and skills, thereby advancing towards the envisioned future. One of the key trends identified as influential to the industry was “the increasing public awareness of environmental issues and the correlated demand for more environment-friendliness.”

Future of Government in 2030 by e.Republic is a series of short essays compiling the thoughts of over two dozen futurists. One of these essays looks at the sense of public urgency regarding climate change and the rise of climate behaviors amongst certain cohorts.

Future of Highways by ARUP examines the future of mobility and transport infrastructure. One of the megatrends identified, “changing behavior and the sharing economy”, looks at shifting environmental awareness and behaviors.

Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want (popular version) by African Union outlines 7 aspirations for the continent in 2063. One of these aspirations is “a prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development.”

2022 Strategic Foresight Report by Atlantic Council examines three scenarios and their implications on global trends and challenges.

• Cold War II, with a twist
• A World Transformed by Climate Shocks
• A Democratic Resistance

The report considers ways in which technologies positively and negatively impact the environment and potential actions regarding these concerns.

The Future of Protein, The Protein Challenge 2040: Shaping the future of food by Forum for the Future examines the current state of the protein market in the food industry and assesses whether existing commitments and activities are sufficient to address global sustainability challenges. It explores the role of businesses in promoting sustainable protein systems, including diversifying protein sources, enabling sustainable animal feed, and integrating protein strategies into overall business strategies.

A summary of potential cross-cutting missions to address future societal challenges in Norway by RAND is a study commissioned by the Research Council of Norway. The study focuses on strategic areas such as oceans, green transition, health and welfare, cohesion and globalization, and technology and digitalization, aiming to identify priority missions and structural measures to address societal challenges in Norway.

Review of how science and technology could contribute to better energy management in the future: futures studies by the UK Government Office for Science explores potential future energy scenarios and their implications for the United Kingdom. It examines different pathways for energy generation, consumption, and policies. The report aims to inform policymakers and stakeholders about potential energy futures to facilitate decision-making and planning for a sustainable and resilient energy system in the UK.

It's Alive: a vision for tall buildings in 2050 by ARUP proposes a conceptual vision for living in tall buildings in 2050, intended to start conversations about the future of cities. The conceptual building accounts for global challenges like climate change, aging populations, and automation. In this scenario, the future of tall buildings is adaptive, resilient, robotic, human-centered, circular, inclusive, integrated, intelligent, regenerative, and innovative.

Scenarios for the Future of Technology and International Development by Rockefeller Foundation explores four scenarios: Lock Step, Clever Together, Hack Attack, and Smart Scramble, each depicting different trajectories of technological development and their socio-economic impacts, and their implications for technology and global development. It examines how technological advancements can either exacerbate inequalities or contribute to equitable and sustainable development, highlighting the need for proactive measures to harness technology for positive outcomes and address potential challenges. One of the key social and environmental uncertainties presented during the scenario workshop was the prioritization or de-prioritization of global climate change awareness and action.

Thinking MENA Futures: The Next Five Years and Beyond by the Middle East Institute is a series of essays looking at the next 5 years (2021-2026) for the Middle East and North Africa. One of which looks at a report from the World Bank highlighting the devastating and unavoidable impacts of climate change in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. It emphasizes the need for a green, resilient, and inclusive approach to development to mitigate the effects of climate change, such as declining crop yields, water scarcity, and disruptions in essential services. The report identifies key areas for transformation, including resilient food systems, low-carbon energy transition, industrial decarbonization, climate-smart cities, and sustainable climate financing, to achieve a low-carbon growth trajectory and build a greener and more resilient future.

Human Intervention in the Earth's Climate: The Governance of Geoengineering in 2025+ by Global Governance Futures discusses the concept of geoengineering as a potential approach to address climate change. It explores various geoengineering techniques, their potential risks and benefits, and the need for international governance and regulations to ensure responsible and ethical implementation of such technologies in the future.

The Future-Ready University by ARUP explores the evolving landscape of higher education and its implications for the future of universities, encompassing changes in campus design, educational delivery, and insights from interviews with experts at partner universities worldwide. One key trend identified is “net zero” which considers responses to the climate crisis.

The 5th Science and Technology Foresight (2016-2040) by Korea Institute of S&T Evaluation and Planning aims to analyze future social demand, establish strategic technology planning, and guide research and development activities. Through the analysis of future social trends and mega trends, the project identifies major issues, derives future technologies, and contributes to science and technology planning and policy formulation. The report identifies a major issue group, “ecosystem and environment friendliness”, which looks at things like: development and expanded supply of renewable energy; transition to more environment-friendly industries; and search for new, non-traditional resources.

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