World Solve

Kelp forests support diverse marine ecosystems but are increasingly vulnerable to warming waters and invasive species that outcompete them once they weaken. Restoring and protecting these ecosystems at scale remains an unresolved conservation challenge.

Some of the world's largest aquifers are being pumped for irrigation and drinking water far faster than natural processes can refill them. Once fully depleted, these ancient water reserves may take centuries to recover, if they recover at all.

Sustainable aviation fuel exists but remains far more expensive and limited in supply than traditional jet fuel, keeping airline adoption slow. Scaling production to meet real demand remains an unresolved industry challenge.

Even with improved spill response technology, oil spills can leave lasting ecological damage that persists for years after the initial cleanup appears complete. Preventing spills in the first place remains far more effective than any current cleanup method.

Algal blooms can produce toxins that harm both wildlife and humans, and they're becoming more frequent as waters warm and nutrient pollution continues from agricultural runoff. Preventing these blooms before they form remains an unresolved challenge.

Trees can significantly cool city temperatures, but planting and maintaining enough urban canopy to meaningfully offset rising heat requires long-term investment many cities haven't sustained. Closing this gap remains an urgent urban planning challenge.

Insect populations, including many pollinators, have been declining in various regions due to habitat loss, pesticide use, and climate change, threatening the broader ecosystems and agriculture that depend on them. Reversing this decline at scale remains unresolved.

Industrial chemicals can seep into groundwater and rivers used for drinking water, and cleanup once contamination occurs is often extremely difficult and expensive. Preventing contamination before it happens remains far more effective than remediation after the fact.

Wind turbine blades and other renewable energy components can be difficult and costly to recycle, creating a growing waste stream from an industry meant to be environmentally beneficial. Closing this lifecycle gap remains an unresolved sustainability challenge.

Salt and chemicals used to keep roads safe in winter can wash into nearby streams and lakes, harming aquatic life over time. Finding equally effective but less harmful alternatives remains an underaddressed environmental challenge.

A fungal disease combined with habitat destruction has driven sharp declines in amphibian populations across many regions, and effective large-scale intervention remains limited. Protecting these ecologically important species remains an unresolved conservation priority.

Some carbon offset programs have been found to overstate their actual climate benefit or allow the same emissions reduction to be claimed by multiple parties. Building a fully transparent, verifiable offset system remains an unresolved challenge.

Coastal development can interfere with natural sand replenishment processes, compounding the erosion already caused by rising sea levels. Balancing coastal development with long-term shoreline stability remains an unresolved planning challenge.

Ships can unintentionally transport invasive species across oceans in the water they carry for stability, introducing them to ecosystems where they can cause serious ecological disruption. Fully preventing this transfer remains inconsistently enforced globally.

Old-growth forests support unique biodiversity that can't simply be replaced by planting new trees, since the ecological complexity takes centuries to develop. Protecting the last remaining old-growth forests remains an urgent, unresolved conservation priority.

Seagrass meadows are highly effective at storing carbon and supporting marine life, but they continue to decline due to pollution, dredging, and coastal development. Restoring them at a pace that matches their loss remains an unresolved challenge.

Bycatch, the unintentional capture of dolphins, sea turtles, and other non-target species in fishing gear, remains a significant driver of population decline for several marine species. Designing gear that fully prevents this remains technically unresolved.

Arctic wetlands store significant amounts of carbon that can be released as methane when they thaw, potentially creating a feedback loop that accelerates warming further. Preventing or slowing this release remains beyond current technological capability.

Biodegradable packaging alternatives exist but often don't yet match the protective qualities of traditional plastic needed to keep food safe and fresh for the same duration. Closing this performance gap remains an unresolved materials science challenge.

As temperatures rise, alpine species are forced to migrate to higher elevations, but many eventually run out of mountain left to climb, risking extinction. Protecting these increasingly squeezed ecosystems remains an unresolved conservation priority.