Trends Identified
Ideas and Identities are driving a wave of exclusion
Growing global connectivity amid weak growth will increase tensions within and between societies. Populism will increase on the right and the left, threatening liberalism. Some leaders will use nationalism to shore up control. Religious influence will be increasingly consequential and more authoritative than many governments. Nearly all countries will see economic forces boost women’s status and leadership roles, but backlash also will occur.
2017
Global Trends: The Paradox of Progress
USA, US National Intelligence Council
Governing is getting harder
Publics will demand governments deliver security and prosperity, but flat revenues, distrust, polarization, and a growing list of emerging issues will hamper government performance. Technology will expand the range of players who can block or circumvent political action. Managing global issues will become harder as actors multiply—to include NGOs, corporations, and empowered individuals—resulting in more ad hoc, fewer encompassing efforts.
2017
Global Trends: The Paradox of Progress
USA, US National Intelligence Council
The nature of conflict is changing.
The risk of conflict will increase due to diverging interests among major powers, an expanding terror threat, continued instability in weak states, and the spread of lethal, disruptive technologies. Disrupting societies will become more common, with long- range precision weapons, cyber, and robotic systems to target infrastructure from afar, and more accessible technology to create weapons of mass destruction.
2017
Global Trends: The Paradox of Progress
USA, US National Intelligence Council
Climate change, environment, and health issues will demand attention
A range of global hazards pose imminent and longer-term threats that will require collective action to address—even as cooperation becomes harder. More extreme weather, water and soil stress, and food insecurity will disrupt societies. Sea-level rise, ocean acidification, glacial melt, and pollution will change living patterns. Tensions over climate change will grow. Increased travel and poor health infrastructure will make infectious diseases harder to manage.
2017
Global Trends: The Paradox of Progress
USA, US National Intelligence Council
Advanced materials
Materials with significantly improved functionality, including lighter- weight, stronger, more conductive materials, e.g. nano-materials.
2017
Innovation for the Earth - Harnessing technological breakthroughs for people and the planet
PWC
Cloud technology, including big data
Enables the delivery of computer applications and services over the internet reducing storage and computer power needs. Big data enabled by cloud allows predictive relationships to form, underpinning optimisation.
2017
Innovation for the Earth - Harnessing technological breakthroughs for people and the planet
PWC
Autonomous vehicles, including drones
Enabled by robots these are vehicles that can operate and navigate with little or no human control. Drones fly or move without a pilot and can also operate autonomously.
2017
Innovation for the Earth - Harnessing technological breakthroughs for people and the planet
PWC
Synthethic biology
Inter-disciplinary branch of biology applying engineering principles to biological systems. The market for biotechnology already exceeds $80Bn/year.
2017
Innovation for the Earth - Harnessing technological breakthroughs for people and the planet
PWC
Virtual and augmented reality
Computer-generated simulation of a three-dimensional image overlaid to the physical world (AR) or a complete environment (VR).
2017
Innovation for the Earth - Harnessing technological breakthroughs for people and the planet
PWC
Artificial intelligence
Software algorithms that are capable of performing tasks that normally require human intelligence, e.g. visual perception, speech recognition and decision-making.
2017
Innovation for the Earth - Harnessing technological breakthroughs for people and the planet
PWC