Cities like Manila, Jakarta, and Mumbai rank among the world's most congested, costing billions in lost time and fuel. Integrated mass-transit expansion and smart traffic-management systems are urgently needed.
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.
Publicly citable
Every problem has a stable citation code for reference and discussion.
Filtered by relevance
Search by category, geography, status, and keywords.
Builder-oriented
Use the repository to find startup ideas, policy leads, and research agendas.
Rapid urban migration combined with limited land supply is pushing housing prices far beyond what average incomes can support. Modular and prefabricated housing ventures could help increase affordable supply faster.
Informal settlements continue to expand faster than formal housing in South and Southeast Asian cities.
open
South & Southeast Asia, Asia
Millions live in slums lacking secure tenure, clean water, or sanitation despite being near major urban economic centers. Incremental slum-upgrading programs are more effective and humane than demolition-based approaches.
Earthquake and disaster resilience in Asian building stock remains inadequate.
open
Indonesia, Asia
Many older buildings in seismic zones like Nepal, Indonesia, and Turkey do not meet modern earthquake-resistant standards. Retrofit financing programs and stricter enforced building codes could save many lives.
Secondary cities often lack the metro or bus rapid transit systems that ease congestion in capitals, forcing reliance on private vehicles. Lower-cost bus rapid transit models could be replicated more widely.
Port and logistics bottlenecks raise trade costs across South Asia.
open
India, Asia
Congested ports and inefficient customs processes in countries like India and Bangladesh slow down import-export operations. Digital single-window customs clearance systems could significantly cut delays.
Broadband and digital infrastructure gaps persist in remote parts of Central and South Asia.
open
South & Central Asia, Asia
Mountainous terrain and low population density make fiber rollout economically unviable in many areas. Satellite internet and community mesh networks offer a faster path to connectivity.
The digital divide between urban and rural Asia limits access to online opportunity.
open
Asia, Asia
Rural residents often pay more for slower internet, limiting access to e-commerce, remote work, and online education. Community Wi-Fi cooperatives and subsidized rural data plans could help close this gap.
E-waste from Asia's booming electronics consumption lacks adequate recycling infrastructure.
open
Asia, Asia
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.
Semiconductor supply chain dependency creates strategic vulnerability for several Asian economies.
open
East Asia, Asia
Heavy reliance on a small number of chip manufacturing hubs like Taiwan creates risk if supply is disrupted by conflict or disaster. Diversifying regional chip fabrication capacity is a major strategic priority.
Gig economy workers across Asia lack digital labor protections.
open
Asia, Asia
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.
Coral reef degradation threatens marine biodiversity and coastal livelihoods across Southeast Asia.
open
Southeast Asia, Asia
Warming waters, pollution, and destructive fishing practices are damaging reefs that millions depend on for fishing and tourism income. Coral restoration projects and marine protected area enforcement need expanded funding.
Illegal wildlife trafficking through Asia remains a major threat to endangered species globally.
open
Asia, Asia
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.
Desertification is spreading across parts of Central and East Asia, including the edges of the Gobi Desert.
open
Central & East Asia, Asia
Overgrazing and unsustainable land use are turning productive land into desert, threatening herding communities' livelihoods. Large-scale reforestation and sustainable grazing management programs could slow the spread.
Extreme heatwaves are becoming more frequent and deadly across South and Southeast Asia.
open
South & Southeast Asia, Asia
Rising temperatures combined with high humidity are pushing some regions toward conditions where outdoor work becomes dangerous. Heat-early-warning systems and outdoor worker protection policies need urgent development.
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.
Human trafficking networks continue to exploit vulnerable populations across South and Southeast Asia.
open
South & Southeast Asia, Asia
Economic desperation and weak law enforcement enable trafficking for forced labor and exploitation across the region. Cross-border data-sharing and victim-support digital platforms could improve detection and rescue.
Judicial backlogs leave millions of cases pending in South Asian court systems.
open
South Asia, Asia
Understaffed courts and outdated processes mean cases can take over a decade to resolve, undermining access to justice. Digital case-management systems and virtual hearings could significantly speed up processing.
Youth unemployment remains persistently high in several fast-growing Asian economies.
open
Asia, Asia
Formal job creation has not kept pace with the large number of young graduates entering the workforce each year. Skills-matching platforms and support for youth entrepreneurship could help absorb this workforce.
The informal economy dominates employment in much of South and Southeast Asia.
open
South & Southeast Asia, Asia
The majority of workers lack formal contracts, social security, or legal protections, leaving them vulnerable to economic shocks. Digital tools that gradually formalize small businesses without heavy bureaucracy could extend protections.