World Solve

Current approaches to nature-based solutions for landslide and erosion control on steep agricultural lands either underperform under variable field conditions or generate externalities that undermine long-term sustainability and equity. Closing the gap requires coordinated advances in science, systems design and enabling institutions.

The absence of robust, context-adapted solutions for methods for restoring coastal wetlands that maximize both carbon and biodiversity co-benefits creates cascading risks across interconnected human and natural systems. Key missing elements include durable performance, low lifetime cost, and governance arrangements capable of sustaining impact beyond pilot stages.

The absence of robust, context-adapted solutions for complete proteins from agricultural lignocellulosic residues creates cascading risks across interconnected human and natural systems. Key missing elements include durable performance, low lifetime cost, and governance arrangements capable of sustaining impact beyond pilot stages.

A persistent gap exists in realizing practical, scalable solutions for biotechnologies enabling the conversion of organic waste into high-value proteins and materials. Scientific understanding, engineering readiness and institutional capacity remain insufficient to translate promising concepts into durable impact under real-world constraints of cost, skills and governance.

The absence of robust, context-adapted solutions for methods for assessing the resilience of food systems to simultaneous climate and geopolitical shocks creates cascading risks across interconnected human and natural systems. Key missing elements include durable performance, low lifetime cost, and governance arrangements capable of sustaining impact beyond pilot stages.

The absence of robust, context-adapted solutions for methods for quantifying the health co-benefits of different climate mitigation strategies creates cascading risks across interconnected human and natural systems. Key missing elements include durable performance, low lifetime cost, and governance arrangements capable of sustaining impact beyond pilot stages.

Current approaches to restoration techniques for coral reefs that succeed under ongoing ocean warming and acidification either underperform under variable field conditions or generate externalities that undermine long-term sustainability and equity. Closing the gap requires coordinated advances in science, systems design and enabling institutions.

The absence of robust, context-adapted solutions for biotechnologies for engineering microbes that produce biodegradable alternatives to conventional plastics creates cascading risks across interconnected human and natural systems. Key missing elements include durable performance, low lifetime cost, and governance arrangements capable of sustaining impact beyond pilot stages.

Current approaches to neighborhood-scale wastewater systems recovering phosphorus and energy either underperform under variable field conditions or generate externalities that undermine long-term sustainability and equity. Closing the gap requires coordinated advances in science, systems design and enabling institutions.

A persistent gap exists in realizing practical, scalable solutions for biotechnologies enabling the sustainable intensification of aquaculture and fisheries. Scientific understanding, engineering readiness and institutional capacity remain insufficient to translate promising concepts into durable impact under real-world constraints of cost, skills and governance.

Current approaches to governance models for the equitable sharing of benefits from space resource utilization either underperform under variable field conditions or generate externalities that undermine long-term sustainability and equity. Closing the gap requires coordinated advances in science, systems design and enabling institutions.

Current approaches to early detection systems for novel pathogens that function in low-resource laboratory settings either underperform under variable field conditions or generate externalities that undermine long-term sustainability and equity. Closing the gap requires coordinated advances in science, systems design and enabling institutions.

The absence of robust, context-adapted solutions for nature-based solutions for urban resilience that provide multiple co-benefits for people and nature creates cascading risks across interconnected human and natural systems. Key missing elements include durable performance, low lifetime cost, and governance arrangements capable of sustaining impact beyond pilot stages.

A persistent gap exists in realizing practical, scalable solutions for designs for financial systems that support long-term investment in sustainability and resilience. Scientific understanding, engineering readiness and institutional capacity remain insufficient to translate promising concepts into durable impact under real-world constraints of cost, skills and governance.

The absence of robust, context-adapted solutions for institutional designs that increase the capacity of local governments to manage climate risks creates cascading risks across interconnected human and natural systems. Key missing elements include durable performance, low lifetime cost, and governance arrangements capable of sustaining impact beyond pilot stages.

The absence of robust, context-adapted solutions for desalination processes that co-recover fertilizer nutrients creates cascading risks across interconnected human and natural systems. Key missing elements include durable performance, low lifetime cost, and governance arrangements capable of sustaining impact beyond pilot stages.

The absence of robust, context-adapted solutions for governance models for ensuring the safety and reliability of AI systems used in military applications creates cascading risks across interconnected human and natural systems. Key missing elements include durable performance, low lifetime cost, and governance arrangements capable of sustaining impact beyond pilot stages.

A persistent gap exists in realizing practical, scalable solutions for biotechnologies for engineering plants that fix nitrogen more efficiently and reduce fertilizer needs. Scientific understanding, engineering readiness and institutional capacity remain insufficient to translate promising concepts into durable impact under real-world constraints of cost, skills and governance.

A persistent gap exists in realizing practical, scalable solutions for systems ensuring the long-term stewardship of carbon dioxide removal projects. Scientific understanding, engineering readiness and institutional capacity remain insufficient to translate promising concepts into durable impact under real-world constraints of cost, skills and governance.

Current approaches to methods for assessing the long-term social and environmental impacts of large-scale technological change either underperform under variable field conditions or generate externalities that undermine long-term sustainability and equity. Closing the gap requires coordinated advances in science, systems design and enabling institutions.