Trends Identified
Growing pressures on ecosystems
Driven by global population growth and associated demands for food and energy, as well as evolving consumption patterns, the pressure on the Earth's ecosystems is continuously increasing. Despite some positive developments, such as a recent reduction in the rates of tropical deforestation, global biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation are projected to increase.
2015
Assessment of global megatrends - an update
European Environment Agency (EEA)
Increasingly severe consequences of climate change
In the past 150 years, the atmosphere and the oceans have warmed, snow and ice cover has decreased, sea levels have risen and many extreme weather and climate events have become more frequent. This warming of the global climate is unprecedented over millennia.
2015
Assessment of global megatrends - an update
European Environment Agency (EEA)
Increasing environmental pollution
Across the world, ecosystems are today exposed to critical levels of pollution in increasingly complex mixtures. Human activities (such as energy generation and agriculture), global population growth and changing consumption patterns are the key drivers behind this growing environmental burden.
2015
Assessment of global megatrends - an update
European Environment Agency (EEA)
Diversifying approaches to governance
In the context of rapid globalisation, governments are facing a mismatch between the increasingly long-term, global, systemic challenges facing society and their more national and short-term focus and powers.
2015
Assessment of global megatrends - an update
European Environment Agency (EEA)
New Markets
Based on four years of Global Opportunity Report data, it is clear that new market opportunities emerge at the intersection of technology and sustainability risks. The vast majority of our 55 opportunities employ technological innovations, but the digitalisation of certain products and services will not be enough to remain competitive in the future market universe. True innovation lies in finding the intersection of a business sector and technology.
2018
Global opportunity report
DNV GL
Unchaining land rights
Securing proof of land ownership is an enabling factor for increasing equality. Blockchain technology has the potential to make land registration transparent and tamper-proof. Securing land titles is an important step in empowering people to make investments and improve their financial situation.
2018
Global opportunity report
DNV GL
Illuminating supply chains
In an increasingly globalised world, understanding supply chains in the food and retail sector can be di cult and lead to the unfair treatment of workers, who are invisible to consumers at the point of purchase. Increasing transparency via new technologies allows consumers, companies, and others to influence supply chain choices.
2018
Global opportunity report
DNV GL
Alternative food sources
Insects have been a food staple in some countries for centuries, but they are now beginning to disrupt Western agriculture and aquaculture with their high feed efficiencies and attractive environmental credentials. With increasing demand for high-protein food and new products appearing regularly, this is a breakthrough market to watch.
2018
Global opportunity report
DNV GL
Construction in progress
As we build the world around us at ever-growing speed, the highly-emitting construction sector must adopt circular approaches and adapt to disruptive technologies in order to cut emissions. Upcycling waste into construction materials will result in a six-fold value increase, strengthening the industry’s foundations.
2018
Global opportunity report
DNV GL
Reuse to repower
As the mobility sector transitions to an electric future, we will soon see a wave of used batteries becoming obsolete when their capacity becomes too low to use in electric vehicles (EVs). However, by repurposing mobile EV batteries in new stationary settings, it is possible to double battery life cycles to more than 20 years.
2018
Global opportunity report
DNV GL