Repository of problems worth solving
World Solve is a public institutional repository for identifying real unresolved problems across science, society, health, governance, economics, and local systems. Each entry is intended to be citable, inspectable, and actionable.
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4094Total
4094Open
0Solved
9Humans
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Crop residue and animal waste could theoretically be converted into biogas or other clean energy sources, but the infrastructure needed remains too costly for many farms to adopt. Scaling this technology affordably remains an unresolved opportunity.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
waste
clean
energy
don
have
affordable
way
convert
agricultural
scale
whether
philosophy-ethics
determine
resolved
agreed
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
As oceans absorb more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, they become more acidic in ways that threaten shellfish, coral, and the broader marine food chain. Reversing or even halting this chemical shift remains beyond current technology.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
oceans
carbon
dioxide
yet
fully
stop
acidification
caused
rising
absorption
whether
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
way
resolved
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Migratory birds depend on a chain of habitats across multiple countries, and losing even one critical stopover point can threaten an entire species' survival. Coordinating protection across this many jurisdictions remains an unresolved conservation challenge.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
migratory
entire
haven
solved
protect
bird
populations
habitat
loss
along
whether
philosophy-ethics
way
prevent
mathematics-logic
have
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Even legally protected forests are frequently logged illegally due to weak enforcement and high demand for timber, undermining conservation efforts on paper. Stopping this in practice, not just in law, remains an unresolved global challenge.
society-governance
global-unspecified
protected
don
have
scalable
way
prevent
illegal
logging
rainforest
reserves
philosophy-ethics
whether
determine
resolved
agreed
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Wetlands absorb floodwater and protect surrounding areas, but they continue to be drained or developed faster than they're restored in many regions. Protecting or rebuilding this natural infrastructure remains an unresolved environmental priority.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
wetlands
natural
yet
fully
prevent
loss
serve
flood
buffers
nearby
whether
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
way
haven
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Desalination plants typically discharge extremely salty brine back into the ocean, which can harm nearby marine ecosystems if not managed carefully. A cleaner, more sustainable desalination process remains technically unresolved.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
haven
found
affordable
way
desalinate
water
producing
large
amounts
concentrated
whether
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
resolved
prevent
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Ocean shipping produces a significant share of global greenhouse gas emissions, yet the industry has been slower than others to adopt cleaner fuel alternatives at scale. Speeding up this transition remains an unresolved climate challenge.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
shipping
don
have
reliable
way
track
reduce
carbon
footprint
whether
philosophy-ethics
determine
resolved
agreed
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
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.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
kelp
forests
warming
waters
yet
fully
prevent
die-off
caused
coastal
philosophy-ethics
whether
mathematics-logic
way
resolved
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Many cities lack convenient composting systems, so a significant share of food waste that could be composted still ends up in landfills producing methane. Scaling accessible composting infrastructure remains an unresolved urban sustainability challenge.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
composting
infrastructure
accessible
urban
haven
solved
make
widely
dense
areas
whether
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
systems
cities
open
United States, North America
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.
climate-environment
north-america
united-states
fully
aquifers
yet
prevent
depletion
groundwater
took
thousands
years
form
global-unspecified
whether
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
haven
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
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.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
fuel
sustainable
aviation
airline
haven
found
way
make
available
large
whether
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
resolved
determine
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Mangroves protect coastlines from storms and support rich ecosystems, but they continue to be cleared for development faster than restoration efforts can replace them. Speeding up restoration while slowing clearance remains unresolved.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
development
don
have
scalable
way
restore
mangrove
forests
fast
enough
philosophy-ethics
whether
resolved
determine
agreed
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
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.
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
spills
oil
damage
yet
fully
prevent
causing
long-term
marine
coastal
philosophy-ethics
whether
health-biology
way
resolved
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
As Arctic ice recedes, increased shipping and resource extraction activity adds further pressure to already fragile polar ecosystems. Balancing economic interest with ecological protection in this newly accessible region remains unresolved.
economics-resources
global-unspecified
polar
ecosystems
increased
activity
haven
solved
protect
compounding
effects
warming
whether
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
climate-environment
protection
way
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Underwater noise from ships can interfere with the way whales and other marine mammals communicate and navigate, and mitigation measures remain inconsistently enforced across major shipping routes. Reducing this impact remains an underaddressed conservation issue.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
way
noise
marine
shipping
don
have
effective
prevent
pollution
disrupting
philosophy-ethics
whether
determine
resolved
agreed
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
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.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
blooms
algal
waters
nutrient
runoff
yet
fully
prevent
spread
harmful
whether
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
way
haven
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
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.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
urban-planning
urban
haven
canopy
enough
offset
rising
city
temperatures
found
way
whether
climate-environment
mathematics-logic
make
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
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.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
climate-change
decline
insect
populations
yet
fully
prevent
essential
food
production
whether
philosophy-ethics
way
mathematics-logic
determine
have
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Many major rivers depend on glacial melt for a steady water supply, and as these glaciers shrink, the long-term water security of downstream populations becomes increasingly uncertain. Protecting or planning around this shrinking resource remains unresolved.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
water
glaciers
downstream
haven
solved
protect
serve
primary
sources
millions
whether
philosophy-ethics
mathematics-logic
urban
way
resolved
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Overgrazing, deforestation, and changing rainfall patterns continue to push arid regions toward full desertification faster than restoration projects can reverse. Scaling effective land restoration to match the pace of degradation remains unresolved.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
deforestation
effective
desertification
arid
regions
don
have
affordable
way
prevent
spreading
whether
philosophy-ethics
determine
resolved
agreed
