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
continued construction on flood plains 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.
continued
construction
flood
plains
creating
climate-environment
Addressing continued heavy reliance on coal for electricity 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.
continued
heavy
reliance
coal
electricity
mathematics-logic
continued high burden of malaria 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.
continued
high
burden
malaria
designing
other
Future progress on human development and planetary health depends on solving continued rise in global average temperatures. 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.
continued
rise
global
average
temperatures
social-civic-problems
open
South & Central Asia, Asia
Many households still burn solid fuels indoors for cooking and heating, causing significant respiratory illness, especially among women and children. Clean cookstove distribution programs need continued scaling and subsidy support.
climate-environment
asia
south-central-asia
cooking
heating
air
quality
inside
homes
indoor
remains
major
health
global-unspecified
african
access
health-biology
pollution
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
History shows repeated cycles of cruelty and progress alike, and it's unclear whether continued faith in humanity's improvement is genuinely rational or simply a comforting bias. This unresolved tension shapes broader philosophical debates about optimism and historical judgment.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
whether
humanity
repeated
historical
don
have
resolved
way
determine
fair
know
haven
mathematics-logic
ethical
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Some long-term ethical frameworks argue humanity's continued existence matters more than any individual's current suffering, while others reject sacrificing real people for abstract future outcomes. This unresolved tension is increasingly relevant to debates on existential risk.
philosophy-ethics
global-unspecified
ethical
humanity
don
know
whether
prioritize
survival
species
over
wellbeing
resolved
haven
determine
mathematics-logic
open
Global / Unspecified, Global
Some fish populations have been fished to the point of collapse, and even with strict conservation measures, recovery can take decades longer than demand is willing to wait. Balancing recovery with continued food needs remains unresolved.
climate-environment
global-unspecified
fish
populations
demand
yet
restore
collapsed
fast
enough
keep
pace
whether
philosophy-ethics
way
have
prevent
determine