Ad Support : Nano Technology Netbook Technology News Computer Software
CSIRO has a new report describes the outcomes from a global foresight project. It presents five megatrends and eight megashocks (global risks) that will redefine how the world’s people live.
The five interrelated megatrends identified in the report are:
1. More from less. This relates to the world’s depleting natural resources and increasing demand for those resources through economic and population growth. Coming decades will see a focus on resource use efficiency.
2. A personal touch. Growth of the services sector of western economies is being followed by a second wave of innovation aimed at tailoring and targeting services.
3. Divergent demographics. The populations of OECD countries are ageing and experiencing lifestyle and diet related health problems. At the same time there are high fertility rates and problems of not enough food for millions in poor countries.
4. On the move. People are changing jobs and careers more often, moving house more often, commuting further to work and travelling around the world more often.
5. i World. Everything in the natural world will have a digital counterpart. Computing power and memory storage are improving rapidly. Many more devices are getting connected to the internet.
Megashocks
A global risk, or ‘megashock’, is a significant and sudden event; the timing and magnitude of which are very hard to predict.
The report identified eight megashocks relevant to Australian science:
1. asset price collapse
2. slowing Chinese economy
3. oil and gas price spikes
4. extreme climate change related weather
5. pandemic
6. biodiversity loss
7. terrorism
8. nanotechnology risks.
The detailed Global Risks report of the World Economic Forum (WEF, 2009) which has identified and evaluated some 36 global risks. The likelihoods ranged from 1-20%. I would note that many of things are issues that are being managed successfully now and have been managed successfully in the past and should have a framework for prevention and mitigation in a business as usual mode.
Economic
1 Food price volatility
2 Oil and gas price spike
3 Major fall in US$
4 Slowing Chinese economy (6%)
5 Fiscal crises
6 Asset price collapse
7 Retrenchment from globalization (developed)
8 Retrenchment from globalization (emerging)
9 Regulation cost
10 Underinvestment in infrastructure
Geopolitical
11 International terrorism
12 Collapse of the Nuclear Nonproliferation treaty
13 US/Iran conflict
14 US/ Democratic Republic of Korea conflict
15 Afghanistan instability
16 Transnational crime and corruption
17 Israel-Palestine conflict
18 Violence in Iraq
19 Global governance gaps
Environmental
20 Extreme climate change related weather
21 Droughts and desertification
22 Loss of freshwater
23 Cyclone
24 Earthquake
25 Inland flooding
26 Coastal flooding
27 Air pollution
28 Biodiversity loss
Societal
29 Pandemic
30 Infectious disease
31 Chronic disease
32 Liability regimes
33 Migration
Technological
34 Critical information infrastructure breakdown
35 Emergence of nanotechnology risks
36 Data fraud/loss
If you liked this article, please give it a quick review on Reddit, or StumbleUpon. Thanks
Supporting Advertising
Business Success
How to Make Money
Executive Jobs
Paid Surveys
Thank You
Brian Wang is a Futurist Thought Leader and a popular Science blogger with 1 million readers per month. His blog Nextbigfuture.com is ranked #1 Science News Blog. It covers many disruptive technology and trends including Space, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Medicine, Anti-aging Biotechnology, and Nanotechnology.
Known for identifying cutting edge technologies, he is currently a Co-Founder of a startup and fundraiser for high potential early-stage companies. He is the Head of Research for Allocations for deep technology investments and an Angel Investor at Space Angels.
A frequent speaker at corporations, he has been a TEDx speaker, a Singularity University speaker and guest at numerous interviews for radio and podcasts. He is open to public speaking and advising engagements.