Sustainable planet

Climate change is one of the most urgent crises facing our world, it is inherently complex and needs multidisciplinary attention and action.  This problem requires both more date and better insights into why the climate is changing and how rapidly. In addition, research can provide better insights into scenarios, possible strategies for mitigation and adaptation, how effective they may be and what the social and environmental costs will be.  In brief, who needs to act and how.

One of the most impactful ways to tackle the challenge of climate change is the energy transition from fossil fuels to green energy sources, such as solar and wind energy. The energy transition will involve many levels in society and across many national and cultural boundaries, including: citizens, companies, public infrastructure, international trade agreements, laws, regulation and norms, and even introduce new challenges as nations look to secure access to scarce, strategic raw materials.

Sustainable planet also incorporates questions emerging from the increasing urgency of resources constraints of other basic raw materials, including  food and water, and the limits to them. It encompasses studies of the types, sources and severity of environmental degradation caused by human actions, including damage to land, rivers and oceans and to bio-diversity (ultimately also to human health). 

How can research help to address these issues? Most likely the solutions require a multidisciplinary approach. 

Related SDGs

GOAL 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
GOAL 13: Climate Action
GOAL 14: Life Below Water
GOAL 15: Life on Land
GOAL 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal
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By Rianne Strijker icon

Science, technology and innovation is not addressing world’s most urgent problems

Global science research serves the needs of the Global North, and is driven by the values and interests of a small number of companies, governments and funding bodies, finds a major new international study published today. As such, the authors find, science, technology and innovation research is not focused on the world’s most pressing problems including taking climate action, addressing complex underlying social issues, tackling hunger and promoting good health and wellbeing.

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