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.
4194Total
4194Open
0Solved
9Humans
illegal fishing operations remains one of the most urgent challenges of our time. Systems currently in place are inadequate for the scale and complexity of the problem. A successful approach must work where resources are scarcest and demonstrate clear, measurable results. It should identify possible harms, respect local agency, and show how the solution can be maintained and expanded by the communities it is meant to serve.
illegal
fishing
operations
strengthening
global
local-regional
The problem of overfishing emptying the seas continues to affect hundreds of millions of people and undermines progress on multiple Sustainable Development Goals. Existing responses remain fragmented, under-resourced and poorly adapted to local contexts. A strong solution must operate effectively under severe constraints of skilled personnel, infrastructure, electricity and connectivity. It should define clear measurable outcomes, identify possible unintended harms, and demonstrate how the intervention can be sustained by local institutions long after initial funding ends.
overfishing
emptying
seas
strengthening
global
other
Future progress on human development and planetary health depends on solving ocean warming destroying fisheries. Conventional approaches have proven insufficient. The required intervention must integrate community knowledge, data and appropriate technology while remaining affordable, privacy-preserving and operable with minimal external support. Strong solutions will articulate measurable impact metrics, risk mitigation strategies, and a plan for sustained operation by local actors after the pilot phase.
ocean
warming
destroying
fisheries
strengthening
social-civic-problems
Addressing humans unknowingly consuming microplastics is critical for achieving the 2030 Agenda. Current efforts fall short in scale, speed and equity, leaving the most vulnerable behind. Any viable solution must function in low-resource settings with limited specialists, transport, laboratory capacity and broadband. Proposals should specify quantifiable biological, social or environmental outcomes, openly discuss potential risks, and present a realistic pathway for long-term maintenance and local ownership beyond short research pilots.
capacity
humans
unknowingly
consuming
microplastics
climate-environment
massive quantities of food wasted in homes and stores remains one of the most urgent challenges of our time. Systems currently in place are inadequate for the scale and complexity of the problem. A successful approach must work where resources are scarcest and demonstrate clear, measurable results. It should identify possible harms, respect local agency, and show how the solution can be maintained and expanded by the communities it is meant to serve.
massive
quantities
food
wasted
homes
climate-environment
The problem of agricultural chemicals driving the decline of bees continues to affect hundreds of millions of people and undermines progress on multiple Sustainable Development Goals. Existing responses remain fragmented, under-resourced and poorly adapted to local contexts. A strong solution must operate effectively under severe constraints of skilled personnel, infrastructure, electricity and connectivity. It should define clear measurable outcomes, identify possible unintended harms, and demonstrate how the intervention can be sustained by local institutions long after initial funding ends.
agricultural
chemicals
driving
decline
bees
other
The problem of growing mountains of electronic waste continues to affect hundreds of millions of people and undermines progress on multiple Sustainable Development Goals. Existing responses remain fragmented, under-resourced and poorly adapted to local contexts. A strong solution must operate effectively under severe constraints of skilled personnel, infrastructure, electricity and connectivity. It should define clear measurable outcomes, identify possible unintended harms, and demonstrate how the intervention can be sustained by local institutions long after initial funding ends.
growing
mountains
electronic
waste
strengthening
other
The problem of household cooking with wood and charcoal causing lung disease continues to affect hundreds of millions of people and undermines progress on multiple Sustainable Development Goals. Existing responses remain fragmented, under-resourced and poorly adapted to local contexts. A strong solution must operate effectively under severe constraints of skilled personnel, infrastructure, electricity and connectivity. It should define clear measurable outcomes, identify possible unintended harms, and demonstrate how the intervention can be sustained by local institutions long after initial funding ends.
household
cooking
wood
charcoal
causing
other
Addressing natural gas leaks contributing to climate change is critical for achieving the 2030 Agenda. Current efforts fall short in scale, speed and equity, leaving the most vulnerable behind. Any viable solution must function in low-resource settings with limited specialists, transport, laboratory capacity and broadband. Proposals should specify quantifiable biological, social or environmental outcomes, openly discuss potential risks, and present a realistic pathway for long-term maintenance and local ownership beyond short research pilots.
capacity
natural
gas
leaks
contributing
climate-environment
Addressing clean energy still too expensive for many is critical for achieving the 2030 Agenda. Current efforts fall short in scale, speed and equity, leaving the most vulnerable behind. Any viable solution must function in low-resource settings with limited specialists, transport, laboratory capacity and broadband. Proposals should specify quantifiable biological, social or environmental outcomes, openly discuss potential risks, and present a realistic pathway for long-term maintenance and local ownership beyond short research pilots.
capacity
clean
energy
too
expensive
mathematics-logic
Addressing crushing levels of student debt is critical for achieving the 2030 Agenda. Current efforts fall short in scale, speed and equity, leaving the most vulnerable behind. Any viable solution must function in low-resource settings with limited specialists, transport, laboratory capacity and broadband. Proposals should specify quantifiable biological, social or environmental outcomes, openly discuss potential risks, and present a realistic pathway for long-term maintenance and local ownership beyond short research pilots.
capacity
crushing
levels
student
debt
mathematics-logic
The problem of high rates of early school leaving continues to affect hundreds of millions of people and undermines progress on multiple Sustainable Development Goals. Existing responses remain fragmented, under-resourced and poorly adapted to local contexts. A strong solution must operate effectively under severe constraints of skilled personnel, infrastructure, electricity and connectivity. It should define clear measurable outcomes, identify possible unintended harms, and demonstrate how the intervention can be sustained by local institutions long after initial funding ends.
high
rates
early
school
leaving
other
Future progress on human development and planetary health depends on solving insufficient training for teachers. Conventional approaches have proven insufficient. The required intervention must integrate community knowledge, data and appropriate technology while remaining affordable, privacy-preserving and operable with minimal external support. Strong solutions will articulate measurable impact metrics, risk mitigation strategies, and a plan for sustained operation by local actors after the pilot phase.
insufficient
training
teachers
strengthening
global
social-civic-problems
The problem of schools unprepared for children with special needs continues to affect hundreds of millions of people and undermines progress on multiple Sustainable Development Goals. Existing responses remain fragmented, under-resourced and poorly adapted to local contexts. A strong solution must operate effectively under severe constraints of skilled personnel, infrastructure, electricity and connectivity. It should define clear measurable outcomes, identify possible unintended harms, and demonstrate how the intervention can be sustained by local institutions long after initial funding ends.
schools
unprepared
children
special
needs
other
Future progress on human development and planetary health depends on solving epidemic levels of loneliness and depression. Conventional approaches have proven insufficient. The required intervention must integrate community knowledge, data and appropriate technology while remaining affordable, privacy-preserving and operable with minimal external support. Strong solutions will articulate measurable impact metrics, risk mitigation strategies, and a plan for sustained operation by local actors after the pilot phase.
epidemic
levels
loneliness
depression
strengthening
health-biology
accelerating loss of the world's forests remains one of the most urgent challenges of our time. Systems currently in place are inadequate for the scale and complexity of the problem. A successful approach must work where resources are scarcest and demonstrate clear, measurable results. It should identify possible harms, respect local agency, and show how the solution can be maintained and expanded by the communities it is meant to serve.
accelerating
loss
world
forests
strengthening
climate-environment
Future progress on human development and planetary health depends on solving systematic exclusion of girls from education. Conventional approaches have proven insufficient. The required intervention must integrate community knowledge, data and appropriate technology while remaining affordable, privacy-preserving and operable with minimal external support. Strong solutions will articulate measurable impact metrics, risk mitigation strategies, and a plan for sustained operation by local actors after the pilot phase.
systematic
exclusion
girls
education
strengthening
social-civic-problems
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Businesses seeking to cut corners could potentially use AI to generate fabricated but convincing compliance records for regulatory audits, and auditors don't always have the tools to catch increasingly sophisticated fake documentation. Strengthening audit verification remains an unresolved challenge.
technology-computing
global-unspecified
fake
compliance
documentation
regulatory
audits
yet
build
technology
reliably
detect
philosophy-ethics
whether
way
resolved
determine
mathematics-logic
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Some counterfeit or unsafe products carry fabricated safety certification marks that can be difficult for both consumers and regulators to quickly verify as fraudulent. Strengthening certification verification systems remains an unresolved consumer protection issue.
society-governance
global-unspecified
systems
safety
consumer
build
fully
reliable
detect
ai-generated
fake
product
philosophy-ethics
whether
mathematics-logic
technology-computing
resolved
haven
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Some financial institutions still use voice recognition as an authentication method, but increasingly realistic AI voice cloning threatens to undermine this security layer. Strengthening these systems against synthetic voice attacks remains an active, unresolved challenge.
society-governance
global-unspecified
voice
cloning
authentication
yet
build
technology
reliably
prevents
being
bypass
philosophy-ethics
whether
mathematics-logic
technology-computing
haven
resolved