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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4194Total
4194Open
0Solved
9Humans
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Marine life ingests or becomes entangled in waste. Upstream waste reduction and cleanup technologies are needed.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
plastic
debris
accumulates
oceans
coasts
waste
marine
life
ingests
becomes
systems
management
technologies
recycling
haven
growing
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Higher CO2 reduces carbonate availability. Global emission cuts are the primary solution.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
ocean
acidification
threatens
shell-forming
organisms
higher
co2
reduces
carbonate
availability
society-governance
technologies
enabling
continuous
monitoring
restoration
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Paper parks exist without real protection. Community-based enforcement and funding can help.
social-civic-problems
global-unspecified
enforcement
marine
protected
areas
often
lack
effective
paper
parks
exist
society-governance
philosophy-ethics
african
whether
technology-computing
climate-environment
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Local livelihoods are squeezed. Preferential access and co-management can support them.
economics-resources
global-unspecified
small-scale
fishers
face
competition
industrial
fleets
local
livelihoods
squeezed
preferential
society-governance
african
fast
growing
remains
climate-environment
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Weak monitoring allows IUU operators to thrive. Satellite and AI tools can improve detection.
science-space
global-unspecified
illegal
unreported
unregulated
fishing
remains
pervasive
weak
monitoring
allows
iuu
whether
philosophy-ethics
african
waters
climate-environment
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Dependence on fishing increases vulnerability. Blue-economy diversification can help.
economics-resources
global-unspecified
coastal
communities
lack
alternative
livelihoods
fisheries
decline
dependence
fishing
increases
african
climate-environment
society-governance
climate
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Logging and agriculture expand into forests. Enforcement and sustainable agriculture are needed.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
deforestation
continues
key
tropical
forest
regions
agriculture
logging
expand
forests
philosophy-ethics
illegal
whether
way
society-governance
science-space
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Soil erosion and nutrient loss reduce productivity. Restoration programs and regenerative agriculture can help.
economics-resources
global-unspecified
land
degradation
affects
quarter
soil
erosion
nutrient
loss
reduce
society-governance
communities
climate-environment
african
remain
philosophy-ethics
haven
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Species face extinction from multiple pressures. Protected areas and habitat corridors are needed.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
biodiversity
loss
accelerates
habitats
shrink
species
face
extinction
multiple
pressures
philosophy-ethics
whether
prevent
have
way
mathematics-logic
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Sprawl cuts off wildlife movement. Green infrastructure and planning can mitigate fragmentation.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
urban
expansion
fragments
natural
habitats
sprawl
cuts
off
wildlife
movement
african
cities
systems
informal
haven
planning
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Trees on farms can improve resilience and biodiversity. Extension services can promote adoption.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
biodiversity
agroforestry
opportunities
underused
trees
farms
improve
resilience
extension
services
african
remains
access
technology-computing
africa
capacity
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Glacier loss and development threaten them. Integrated mountain governance is needed.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
mountain
ecosystems
face
combined
climate
human
pressures
glacier
loss
development
society-governance
governance
communities
frameworks
mechanisms
ensuring
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Abuse and exploitation go undetected. Stronger reporting and support services are needed.
society-governance
global-unspecified
child
protection
systems
under-resourced
abuse
exploitation
undetected
stronger
reporting
support
public
technology-computing
economics-resources
climate-environment
services
governance
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
SDGs require more funding than current flows. Blended finance and innovative instruments can help.
sdg-sustainable-development-goals
global-unspecified
finance
development
volumes
remain
below
estimated
needs
sdgs
require
funding
climate-environment
mechanisms
ensuring
climate
african
society-governance
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Voices from grassroots groups are underrepresented. Inclusive representation mechanisms are needed.
society-governance
global-unspecified
civil
society
participation
governance
constrained
voices
grassroots
groups
underrepresented
mechanisms
climate-environment
ensuring
development
climate
african
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Contradictory policies undermine progress. Integrated policy reviews can improve coherence.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
policy
coherence
trade
climate
development
agendas
weak
contradictory
policies
undermine
society-governance
institutional
improve
designs
arrangements
relocation
Smallholder farmers often rely on traditional knowledge rather than timely forecasts, exposing them to avoidable losses. SMS-based localized forecast services and climate advisory platforms could improve resilience.
climate-environment
africa
climate
african
agriculture
lacks
widespread
access
reliable
weather
information
smallholder
global-unspecified
society-governance
methods
improve
institutional
technology-computing
Millions of workers in transport, delivery, and informal retail have no protection against accidents or income shocks. Micro-insurance products linked to daily transactions could extend coverage.
economics-resources
africa
products
informal
workers
insurance
african
gig-economy
participants
rare
millions
transport
settlements
mathematics-logic
global-unspecified
local
climate-environment
might
High-pressure startup environments with little support contribute to burnout and depression. Peer-support networks and confidential counseling services for founders could improve wellbeing.
climate-environment
africa
support
access
mental-health
entrepreneurs
limited
high-pressure
startup
environments
little
global-unspecified
african
remains
low
society-governance
economics-resources
lack
Overfishing and climate shocks leave fishers economically exposed without alternative income sources. Blue-economy entrepreneurship programs could create new coastal jobs.
economics-resources
africa
coastal
african
communities
lack
diversified
livelihoods
beyond
fishing
overfishing
climate
climate-environment
global-unspecified
protection