So THIS is what the future looks like...

The CSIRO has given us a glimpse into the next decade

The CSIRO has given us a glimpse into the next decade

Resource scarcity, drug-resistant superbugs, disrupted international trade, an ageing population and increasingly unstable climate ­feature in the “megatrends” identified by the CSIRO to dictate how Australians will live and work over the next two, uncertain decades.

The once-in-a-decade report, first published in 2012, delivers an evidence-based forecast of future megatrends that will shape Australian life.

“Australia is at a pivotal point,” said CSIRO chief executive Larry Marshall. “There is a tidal wave of disruption on the way and it’s critical we take steps now to get ahead of it.”

These are the seven trends the CSIRO urges us to plan for now.

Adapting to a changing climate

Organisations and communities will need to adapt in the face of a changing climate.

2020, less than 1% of the global land surface was classified as an extremely hot zone, but by 2070, this is predicted to increase to 19%, impacting 3.5 billion people who live in these regions.

Leaner, cleaner and greener

Focusing on innovation in science and technology, the CSIRO predicts we will find new ways of addressing the rising demand for food, water, energy and minerals.

Australia generates more waste per day per capita (1.5 kg) than the East Asia and Pacific region (0.6 kg) and the world (0.7 kg).

The escalating health imperative

With an ageing population and chronic illness becoming a greater burden, the cost of health insurance may rise and the focus on preventative health will increase.

 A greater share of GDP is spent on healthcare in Australia (10%) than the OECD average (8.8%)

Geopolitical shifts

Especially as our tensions with China simmer, it's not surprising this makes the list. Pandemics and wars have disrupted our global trade, and several major global players are investing in their defence.

From 2019 to 2020 we saw our two-way trade with our top five partners decline: China (-2%); the United States (-10%); Japan (-23.6%); South Korea (-15.5%) and the United Kingdom (-17.7%)

Diving into digital

Hello telehealth! We love you! Working from home, we love you even more. These are here to stay, as online shopping ramps up and digital currencies find themselves in the mainstream.

Even so, the pull to the city is still strong. 

Increasingly autonomous

You saw WA's new robot dog...

This megatrend is all about artificial intelligence is helping to boost productivity. It also could be a solution to a number of challenges caused by the trends above.

Unlocking the human dimension

What influences us as consumers, citizens and employee behaviours is at the forefront of this megatrend. 

What drives us, as incomes increase and so does the demand for personalised services? 

In 2018, 55.3% of the global population lived in urban areas and this is forecast to grow to 60.4% by 2030 and 68.4% by 2050, with the majority of the global urban population concentrated in Africa and Asia.