Trends Identified

Deepening digital divide in Australia

Internet penetration and the increasing speed of technological progress add other perspectives to the inequality problem; namely, digital divide and digital inclusiveness.

2017

Surfing the digital tsunami

Australia, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)

Climate change is causing more extreme weather events and escalating losses

The world’s top ten hottest years on record have occurred since 1998, and the top five since 2010125. Since pre-industrial times, carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere have increased by 40%; the Arctic sea ice extent shrunk on average between 3.5 and 4.1% per decade in the 1979–2002 period; sea level rose at an average annual rate of 3.2 mm/year from 1993 to 2010, and since 1961 the average annual temperature of oceans has been increasing and the warming effect has reached a depth of at least 3000m.

2017

Surfing the digital tsunami

Australia, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)

Increasing pressure on natural resources and biodiversity

Our growing population worldwide and increasing demand for natural resources (such as energy, water and food) have unleashed a series of threats to biodiversity and ecosystem services (food provision, clean water, regulation of climate etc.).

2017

Surfing the digital tsunami

Australia, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)

Demand for higher education is growing, along with the costs

Australia’s highly educated workforce used to be an area of relative strength. However, it is now competing with the rapid rise in global education and computer adoption. The number of students enrolled in higher education in Australia is growing: from more than 984 000 students in 2006 to almost 1 410 000 in 2015.

2017

Surfing the digital tsunami

Australia, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)

The global population is aging

It is expected that by 2050, 22% of the world’s population (about two billion people) will be aged over 65 years.

2017

Surfing the digital tsunami

Australia, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)

Lifestyle illnesses on the rise

Globally, the number of obese adults has increased since the year 2000, especially in OECD countries.

2017

Surfing the digital tsunami

Australia, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)

Millennials are the most digitally savvy generation, but they face tough challenges

While millennials are the most educated across advanced economies, they are also the most underutilised generation.

2017

Surfing the digital tsunami

Australia, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)

Malicious cyber activity is an increasing security challenge

Government and business services are moving online at higher rates than ever before, as are many of our personal interactions

2017

Surfing the digital tsunami

Australia, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)

Explosion of connected devices and increasing demand for bandwidth tests internet infrastructure

Internet-connected devices are beginning to deliver bene t in areas such as transportation, smart grids, supply chains, urban planning, agriculture, national security, retail and healthcare169 and recent estimates suggest between 30 and 50 billion devices will be deployed by 2020170.

2017

Surfing the digital tsunami

Australia, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)

Costs of fundamental digital capabilities are dropping at an exponential rate

As our core computation, digital storage and network technologies become increasingly affordable relative to performance, they support an increasingly innovative and diverse system which has richer digital information and services.

2017

Surfing the digital tsunami

Australia, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)