Trends Identified
Augmented reality
Augmented-reality-based systems support a variety of services, such as selecting parts in a warehouse and sending repair instructions over mobile devices. These systems are currently in their infancy, but in the future, companies will make much broader use of augmented reality to provide workers with real-time information to improve decision making and work procedures.
2015
Nine Technologies Transforming Industrial Production
Boston Consulting Group (BCG)
Volatility is the new normal
From disruptive technologies to political uncertainty, the future is chaotic and it is here to stay.
2018
8 sustainability trends that will define 2018
Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership
Sustainability to shape the face of business
Growing public consciousness of sustainability issues and political leadership gaps will increasingly open the way for business to step up to the challenge of sustainability leadership, and either lead, adapt or fail.
2018
8 sustainability trends that will define 2018
Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership
Enduring loss and damage from extreme weather
After the unprecedented climate events of 2017, vulnerable cities, countries and people will face yet more extreme and disruptive weather events, with the potential to impact business though value chain disruption and stranded assets, and contribute to social unrest.
2018
8 sustainability trends that will define 2018
Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership
Human versus machine
Growing levels of automation will not only begin to transform the future of business but also the future of work
2018
8 sustainability trends that will define 2018
Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership
China and the global shift to the East
The re-election of President Xi Jinping has given China stability in a turbulent world, and has reinforced the state’s mandate to address climate change at a time when other world leaders have faltered over sustainability
2018
8 sustainability trends that will define 2018
Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership
The end of an era for plastics
Packaging is set to be key battleground in addressing the environmental impacts of business on oceans, land and air.
2018
8 sustainability trends that will define 2018
Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership
A watershed year for transparency
Anticipating the recommendations for reporting climate-related financial risks from the Taskforce on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), companies such as ExxonMobil have faced investor and public pressure to voluntarily improve risk disclosure. This could re the gun for greater transparency in other parts of business such as executive pay, gender equality and tax arrangements.
2018
8 sustainability trends that will define 2018
Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership
Life after coal
The energy revolution is reaching its climax as the switch to renewables and electricity is unstoppable.
2018
8 sustainability trends that will define 2018
Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership
Synthetic biology
Synthetic biology may be the least known and most “disruptive” of the technologies in this study. In essence, it is the application of engineering principles to biology. It draws on a number of existing technologies to design and construct new biological systems that produce useful products or serve useful purposes. Current so ware helps bio-engineers use a growing online library of “biobricks” to design new genetic functions. Biobricks can be assembled by robots, or digital DNA les can be sent to a DNA printer; in either case, the new DNA is inserted into a living cell. The technology is proving to be very efficient.
For example, when genetic engineering (which modifies only a few genes at a time) was used to develop
a yeast to produce precursors to the an malarial drug, artemisinin, it took 150 person-years of work and $25 million. Using biobricks, however, a lab of 12 people produced 12 biological systems of comparable complexity in 3 months. Working in this field is becoming easier for researchers at all levels.
2013
Metascan 3 emerging technologies
Canada, Policy Horizons Canada