Chemistry for a better life

Chapter III
Grand challenges
Winds of change—global megatrends and threats
Our world is changing in extraordinary ways. For the first time
in history, humans now occupy most of the habitable regions
of this planet. This has led to the emergence of the first, true,
global economy. However, this unique situation brings with
it a host of challenges for science and society. The principal
question of course is: how can we support an ever increasing
population of highly connected citizens, most of whom
aspire to a higher degree of material wealth, increased life
expectancy and greater global mobility, when Earth has only
finite resources and energy reserves?
There are at least four emerging ‘megatrends’ that are going
to strongly affect our lives over the coming decades (Table 2).
These trends are complex; they interact with each other but
their growing importance is undeniable. There is wide
agreement globally among major consulting companies,
business and government advisors, and within the major
powerhouses of the global economy, that these trends are
real and that research and better science are required to
enable adaptation, regardless of which one of these trends in
the end becomes the major driver for global change over the
next 20 to 30 years.
Table 2: Megatrends, their impacts and rising challenges
Megatrends to 2050 Impacts Rising challenges
Demographic shifts
• Population growth
• Population age profile
shifts
• Increased urbanisation
• Rise of individuality
• Rise of middle class in
developing countries
9.7 billion people by 2050
21% of the population aged over 65 years
75% of the population living in urban
environments
Megacities in coastal areas and megatransport
corridors
40% of Gen Y (people born in the 1980s and
1990s) living in India and China
Increasing demand for consumer goods and
services
Uncertain labour opportunities for both young
and older people
Increasing migration
Increased greenhouse gas generation
Management of water
Waste management
Transport and housing infrastructure and
processes
Power generation and distribution to meet
demand for heating, cooling, transport and
technology
Access to education
Epidemics and human health
Underemployment (especially of youth and older
people)
Technology as an enabling
force
• Digitisation
• Interconnected technology
• Pervasive technology
• Convergence of
technology
Increasing use of electronic equipment by
individuals, businesses, transport and
government
Collection of big data for analysis and solution
development for business, cultural and social
benefits. Convergence of competition
Creation of a third, social economy
Shortage of rare chemicals used in electronics
Electronic and chemical waste
Faster economic cycles due to faster
communication and technology
High power demands to maintain technology
functionality
Cyber security risks
Chapter III Grand challenges
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