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
Discarded phones, computers, and batteries often end up in informal, toxic recycling operations that harm workers and the environment. Formal e-waste recycling ventures could recover valuable materials safely.
climate-environment
asia
recycling
e-waste
booming
electronics
consumption
lacks
adequate
infrastructure
discarded
waste
global-unspecified
systems
informal
haven
economics-resources
management
Ride-hailing and delivery platform workers often have no formal contracts, benefits, or dispute-resolution mechanisms. Portable benefits platforms tied to worker digital IDs could extend protections across platforms.
technology-computing
asia
workers
digital
protections
gig
economy
lack
labor
benefits
platforms
economics-resources
african
global-unspecified
informal
Most countries in the region depend on foreign satellites for communication, weather monitoring, and navigation. Regional satellite-sharing consortiums could give smaller nations affordable access to space-based data.
science-space
asia
nations
space
satellite
technology
development
remains
limited
few
leading
asian
global-unspecified
whether
philosophy-ethics
african
affordable
haven
Palm oil and timber industries clear forest at rates that threaten orangutans and other endangered species while releasing significant carbon emissions. Sustainable palm oil certification and satellite-based deforestation tracking need stronger enforcement.
climate-environment
asia
indonesia
deforestation
carbon-emissions
threaten
malaysia
continues
some
world
biodiverse
rainforests
palm
global-unspecified
philosophy-ethics
way
have
whether
open
South & Southeast Asia, Asia
Densely populated deltas like the Ganges-Brahmaputra and Mekong face increasing flooding and salinization of farmland. Adaptive infrastructure and salt-tolerant crop varieties could help communities adjust.
climate-environment
asia
south-southeast-asia
sea
level
rise
threatens
low-lying
delta
regions
south
southeast
global-unspecified
african
remains
haven
coastal
infrastructure
Changing ice patterns disrupt traditional agricultural water cycles that communities have relied on for generations. Better climate modeling and adaptive water-management planning are urgently needed.
climate-environment
asia
central-asia
water
melting
permafrost
glaciers
central
altering
regional
availability
changing
global-unspecified
urban
african
whether
don
philosophy-ethics
The region serves as both source and transit hub for trafficked ivory, pangolins, and tiger parts destined for black markets. Stronger customs detection technology and cross-border enforcement cooperation are needed.
economics-resources
asia
illegal
wildlife
trafficking
remains
major
threat
endangered
species
globally
global-unspecified
philosophy-ethics
african
have
Decades of unregulated manufacturing have left soil unsafe for farming in some areas, requiring costly remediation. Affordable soil-remediation technology and stricter industrial waste regulation are needed.
climate-environment
asia
industrial
soil
pollution
has
severely
contaminated
water
several
rapidly
industrialized
global-unspecified
whether
philosophy-ethics
affordable
don
urban
Weak institutional oversight allows officials to siphon funds meant for infrastructure and social services. Open-data procurement platforms and civic-tech accountability tools have shown promise in exposing graft.
society-governance
asia
corruption
continues
divert
public
resources
several
asian
countries
weak
institutional
procurement
systems
technology-computing
governance
global-unspecified
accountability
Governments in several countries have tightened control over media and online speech, limiting independent journalism and civic discourse. Secure, censorship-resistant publishing platforms could help protect independent reporting.
society-governance
asia
freedom
press
expression
face
growing
restrictions
parts
independent
governments
global-unspecified
philosophy-ethics
whether
determine
resolved
haven
mathematics-logic
Women in many Asian countries earn less and participate in the formal workforce far less than men, despite comparable education levels. Flexible work policies and affordable childcare infrastructure could improve participation rates.
social-civic-problems
asia
workforce
participation
gender
pay
gaps
disparities
remain
significant
less
economics-resources
global-unspecified
society-governance
remains
education
interventions
haven
Social stigma and weak legal enforcement discourage survivors from seeking help or justice in many communities. Anonymous reporting apps linked directly to support services have improved reporting rates where deployed.
society-governance
asia
domestic
gender-based
violence
remains
widespread
underreported
parts
reporting
social
global-unspecified
gender
based
african
whether
Rapid slum growth in wealthy cities means even booming economies have significant underserved populations lacking basic services. Incremental slum-upgrading programs targeting basic services first have proven effective.
social-civic-problems
asia
even
water
sanitation
access
gaps
persist
prosperous
parts
urban
global-unspecified
whether
have
philosophy-ethics
african
don
determine
Factory dormitories in manufacturing hubs frequently offer cramped, unsafe conditions for workers who have migrated from rural areas. Improved labor-housing standards and enforcement could raise living conditions significantly.
social-civic-problems
asia
living
standards
migrant
worker
housing
industrial
zones
often
lacks
global-unspecified
climate-environment
african
workers
philosophy-ethics
urban
health-biology
Treated wastewater is rarely reused for non-potable purposes despite growing water stress in many urban areas. Decentralized greywater recycling systems for buildings could meaningfully cut freshwater demand.
climate-environment
asia
urban
water
recycling
reuse
infrastructure
remains
underdeveloped
asian
cities
treated
global-unspecified
african
systems
haven
Many rural communities have no way to verify if their drinking water is safe, leading to preventable illness. Low-cost portable water-testing kits distributed through community health workers could close this gap.
social-civic-problems
asia
water
rural
quality
testing
monitoring
infrastructure
remains
sparse
communities
global-unspecified
whether
access
philosophy-ethics
african
climate-environment
don
Secondary cities often have no real-time air-quality data, leaving residents unaware of health risks on high-pollution days. Low-cost sensor networks could extend monitoring coverage affordably.
climate-environment
asia
monitoring
networks
cities
urban
air
quality
remain
sparse
outside
major
global-unspecified
african
society-governance
systems
water
open
Southeast Asia, Asia
Rising seas and stronger storms threaten to permanently displace communities that have lived in coastal areas for generations. Managed relocation planning and resilient livelihood diversification programs are urgently needed.
climate-environment
asia
southeast-asia
coastal
communities
small
island
southeast
face
growing
climate
displacement
economics-resources
global-unspecified
fishing
remote
african
Students and workers often face difficulty having degrees or certifications recognized when moving between Asian countries. Regional credential-recognition frameworks could ease labor mobility and study-abroad access.
social-civic-problems
asia
regional
integration
higher
education
credentials
remains
weak
students
workers
global-unspecified
african
access
local-regional
haven
africa
economics-resources
Governments and businesses often absorb disaster costs directly due to lack of accessible catastrophe insurance products. Regional catastrophe bonds and pooled insurance mechanisms could spread and reduce this risk.
climate-environment
asia
insurance
regional
disaster
risk
markets
remain
underdeveloped
despite
high
climate
global-unspecified
african
philosophy-ethics
whether
haven
