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Imagine the impact individual organizations could make if they teamed up to solve the world's most intractable societal problems.
That new mindset took center stage in Copenhagen at the inaugural global innovation lab, UNLEASH. There, a thousand carefully chosen, young social entrepreneurs came together from across the world to develop innovative approaches to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Multiple surveys show that public trust and confidence in government, business, NGOs and media is at an all-time low. Business, however, is considered the most likely of these groups to have a positive impact on the world’s most difficult challenges.
Some of the ideas for solutions to global problems at the first UNLEASH were:
- implementing blockchain technology to detect counterfeit vaccines;
- wrapping cargo pallets with reusable, stretchable Lycra® instead of single-use plastic wraps to greatly reduce plastic waste, petroleum use and CO₂ emissions;
- creating black fly farms to transform food waste into animal feed and fertilizer; and
- enabling people to use artificial intelligence to self-monitor and detect certain types of cancer.
Discussion
If you were able to participate in UNLEASH, what issue would you want to focus on? (You can choose from the ones mentioned, or think of a specific social issue you know of.)
The article states that, "Business is considered the most likely of these groups [government, business, NGOs, media] to have a positive impact on the world’s most difficult challenges." Do you agree? Why or why not?
Do you think the citizens of the world will ever be able to come together as a whole to solve global problems? Why or why not?