Latest cross-thematic news

When the world’s economies, societies and livelihoods were disrupted by COVID-19, it became abundantly clear how dependant our modern world is on nature and its services. Natural Capital Accounting (NCA) enables these to be valued in economic terms, forming a basis for sustainable growth.

As the pace of technological advance gets ever-more rapid, McKinsey has identified 10 technologies most likely to dominate the coming decade. These include developments in materials science which could transform the energy and health sectors, as well as promising clean energy technologies.

The new World Economic Forum list of top emerging technologies is packed with inspiring advances related to the environment, health, infrastructure and connectivity. From disease-diagnosing breath sensors to wireless charging of low-powered devices, self-fertilising crops and more.

Technology is amazing but it has to be used in the right way. How do we future-proof the values and knowledge of people in a world defined by technology? We can learn a lot from indigenous people. They have always shared technological knowledge with each other and between communities.

For the first time since the SDGs were adopted in 2015, the annual report shows a reversal in progress. The COVID-19 pandemic has not only created a global health emergency, but a sustainability crisis too. Jeffrey Sachs, president of SDSN, reveals how the SDGs can frame the recovery.

The World Economic Forum has named 100 up-and-coming tech companies as its 2021 Technology Pioneers. Selected for being cutting-edge players with great potential to shake up their industries, each successfully blends entrepreneurial spirit with science to tackle global problems head-on.