4Revs Innovation Challenge – Helping humanity solve its main survival challenges in one generation (2020-2050)
Humanity is facing four essential survival challenges which we must overcome to enable the continued flourishing of life on Earth, relating to food, water, resources, and climate change/energy. Clearing these four bottlenecks will require revolutionary innovation – and will provide a treasure trove of new opportunities.
In this terms, Nelis Global has create a global project called 4Revs. It is a unique, co-creative ecosystem that aims to help humanity solve the four survival challenges in one generation – between 2020-2050. We have partnered with corporations, social ventures, sustainability practitioners and entrepreneurs, educators, public and civil organizations, and creative minds on all six continents to inspire and implement next-generation initiatives in each of the 4Revs.
But, what is the impact they are currently generating to the planet earth? And which are exactly the challenges and opportunities behind each of these 4 revolutions?
Food, agriculture, protein
Eating is about much more than survival; it is a social and political activity with a multitude of under-exploited local ideas and traditions.
Challenges:
- World population is projected to grow to around 10 billion people in 2050
- In 2019, the global hunger population stands at more than 820 million people
- 1/3 of all food produced globally is wasted (Top 3 wasters: USA, Japan, UK)
- Commercial fisheries in the entire Asia-Pacific region may become impossible by 2048
Opportunities:
- How do we provide food, and reduce food waste, to support a population of 8.6 (2030) – 11.2 (2100) billion people on Earth?
- How do we conduct agriculture sustainably to produce healthy food and protect both humans and our global ecosystems as a whole?
- How do we secure a sufficient and sustainable supply of protein?
Water
Water is the great paradox of our human survival – essential, abundant, and still so fragile and difficult to use. Closely linked to both energy and food.
Challenges:
- In 2019, around 2 billion do not have access to running water at home
- 52% of global population may face water stress by 2050
- Water supply in large parts of Asia is threatened by rapid melting of Himalayan glaciers, possibly affecting more than 2 billion people later this century
Opportunities:
- How do we manage water resources sustainably to avoid severe water stress (projected by MIT to affect 52% of the global population in 2050)?
- How do we help spread new water technologies and management systems for them to be useful and effective in all parts of the world?
Resources, circular, ecosystems
Ecosystem restoration and cyclical and sustainable resource use are closely related to all agricultural and industrial activity, while also being inextricably linked to lifestyle changes.
Challenges:
- By 2050, plastic in the oceans may weigh more than the total weight of fish
- Reforestation efforts are severely threatened by population increases and more affluent lifestyles (requiring more space for meat production and monocultural agriculture)
- Between 1970-2014, a decline of 60% (average) was observed in number of vertebrate animals across ecosystems
Opportunities:
- How do we manage both natural and mineral resources sustainably to enable a continued and sustainable supply?
- How do we create circular economic and social systems that minimize waste and pollution of the Earth’s ecosystems?
- How do we manage land and key ecosystems sustainably?
Energy, climate change
Human health and the continuation of life on Earth are critically influenced by the way we produce and consume energy and minimize climate disruption.
Challenges:
- CO2 emissions from energy are projected to rise by 100% between 2000-2040
- Following present trends, the atmosphere may reach 450 ppm CO2 concentration around 2030 (expected to be a key threshold in limiting runaway global warming)
- Fossil fuels are expected to make up around 74% of primary energy supply in 2040
- By 2050, the world can expect 143 million climate refugees, mainly in Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Latin America. Most will be internally displaced, many will move across borders
- Major cities such as New York, Tokyo, and Lagos could be subject to storm surges and could face harmful flooding
- Other major low-lying coastal or already flood-prone cities include Shanghai, Dhaka, Mumbai and Karachi —each of which has a population of 15 million people or more–.
- Several other cities that are less than 11 meters above sea level —including Miami and Alexandria— also face major destructive weather events, including storms, winds, flooding and fires.
- Rising temperatures would lead to “changing disease patterns,” “more intense and longer-lasting heatwaves,” “more destructive weather events,” and “pressure on the availability and quality of water for drinking and agriculture.”
Opportunities:
- How do we secure sufficient energy supply for a growing population without compromising human health or contributing to severe climate change?
- How do we rapidly decarbonize the economy and society as a whole?
- How do we manage and adapt to future changes caused by climate change?
In order to connect and impulse projects that are currently working to solve these 4 essential aspects for humanity, Nelis team and Socialab Colombia has opened a global call. The 4Revs Innovation Challenge is a global call to identify the solutions that are already creating a path for the revolutions humankind needs to survive. We are looking for innovative and scalable solutions from all corners of the world that are already in the market and that contribute to at least one of the 4 essential survival challenges that we must overcome to enable the continued flourishing of life on Earth.
What kind of solutions or proposals are we looking for?
Sustainable and transformative solutions that contribute to the 4 Revolutions and are already generating impact, such as:
Food, agriculture, protein:
- The best and economically viable examples of regenerative agriculture
- Examples of technologies and ventures that produce edible protein from non-dairy/non-conventional sources
- Examples of new nutrition schemes, business, or initiatives to help feed the poorer populations in the world, in particular children
Water
- New, water producing or conserving technologies, ventures, business
- Innovative approaches to flood control and water flow management
- Creative initiatives to restore or replenish watersheds/aquifers
Resources, circular, ecosystems
- Examples of circular businesses/business models with high value-added (large upcycling potential) or exponential business opportunities (both B2C and B2B)
- Examples of the use of ICT to create or enable circular business models
- Examples of forestry/and or business innovation related to ecosystem restoration
Energy, climate change
- Revolutionary examples of renewable energy (with exponential potential)
- Natural climate solutions with economic feasibility
- Innovative business models/businesses with climate-neutral or climate negative value propositions
Winners awards:
10 finalists will be selected to showcase their solutions to the 4Revs ecosystem formed by Japanese and multinational corporations, social ventures, sustainability practitioners and entrepreneurs, educators, public and civil organizations, and creative minds on all six continents.
Among these finalists, 6 solutions will be selected as potential case studies of an inspiring example (“seed cases”) for the 4Revs platform and will compete to additionally receive financial support: :
USD 1,500 for the first place
USD 750 for the second and third place
USD 500 for the fourth fifth and sixth place
Applications open until Nov 19th, 23:59 (Tokyo time): https://co.socialab.com/challenges/4Revs
Apply now! Spread the word.
