An outlook on mankind of the 21st century: forecasts on energy, food and pores demand

Since the 1990s, there has been a significant change in the nature of environmental and natural resource security. The global economy, which is geared toward using natural resources to meet the demands of a consumer population that is constantly expanding, has greatly outpaced the planet’s carrying capacity during the past two decades. The Anthropocene is a new geological epoch that has been brought about by the extent of the transformation.

In fact, planetary boundaries that should not be crossed have been established by scientists, and it appears that we are currently in the process of doing so in many cases.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution’s combination of digital, material science, and biological innovations has been silently transforming the world economy over the past few years at a fast rate of pace.

The World Economic Forum has identified this transformational pathway as the key paradigm change powering the current state of the world economy.

Whether the global economy is able to come to terms with the planet’s finite resources or if we merely accelerate its effects will depend on how it incorporates the value of ecosystems and the interdependence of human and natural processes.

As we come to grips with the effects of an unsustainable global economy, both innovative policy and entrepreneurial responses that make use of the disruptive technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution may present a chance for those nations that can set themselves up to function in a world with limited resources.

Environmental and natural resource security will be a major concern for leaders in the 21st century on the business innovation agenda and as a major problem in policy.

In order to address some of the significant social and economic difficulties that all nations face, responsible leadership must include acknowledging this reality and creating a framework for managing its effects.