This was the title of the talk by Professor Sir John Beddington, the government's chief scientific adviser, at Bath's Institute for Public Policy Research [IPPR] last month. His abstract was:
Change in the 21st century is both fast and dramatic. Yet in many ways some problems for the next few decades are both predictable and inexorable. Significant challenges exist driven by population growth, complex demography, urbanisation and increasing prosperity, all with a background of significant poverty. Climate change is happening, will continue and is a major risk multiplier.
The lecture examined ways in which these challenges could be addressed. You can watch it here
Responses
EXTREMELY VALUABLE LINK TO AN AUTHORITATIVE LECTURE WITH EXCELLENT SLIDES. IT THROWS LIGHT ON THE MISREPRESENTATIONS THAT ARISE IN PRESS COVERAGE AND POLICY DECISIONS THAT IGNORE EMPIRICAL DATA. THE FOCUS ON 2030, ONLY 16 YEARS HENCE, IS PARTICULARLY MIND-FOCUSING. THE LECTURE OFFERS MUCH MATERIAL FOR EDUCATIONAL USE. THANKS FOR MAKING IT AVAILABLE.