Breakthrough

Harnessingtechnology for a better futureLookinginto the future is always difficult and often problematicbut sometimes itsuseful to imagine what innovations might resolve todays problems and make tomorrowbetter. In this book, 15 distinguished international experts examine howtechnology will affect the human condition and natural world within the nextten years.Their stories reflect majorambitions for what the future could bring and offer a glimpse into thepossibilities for achieving the UNs ambitious Sustainable Development Goals.Theauthors were asked to envision future success in their respective fields, giventhe current state of technology and potential progress over the next decade. Thecentral question driving their research: What are likely technological advancesthat could contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals at major scale, affecting the lives of hundreds of millionsof people or substantial geographies around the globe.Oneoverall takeaway is that gradualist approaches will not achieve those goals by2030. Breakthroughs will be necessary in science, in the development of newproducts and services, and in institutional systems. Each of theexperts responded with stories that reflect big ambitions for what the futuremay bring. Their stories are not projections or forecasts as to what willhappen; they are reasoned and reasonable conjectures about what could happen.The editors intent is to provide a glimpse into the possibilities for thefuture of sustainable development.At a time when many people worryabout stalled progress on the economic, social, and environmental challenges ofsustainable development, Breakthrough is a reminder that the promise ofa better future is within our grasp, across a range of domains. It will interestanyone who wonders about the worlds economic, social, and environmentalfuture.