Trend Category

Climate Change, Energy, and the Environment

From the impacts of climate change to innovations in energy production and grid modernization, environmental trends are shaping both the built and natural environments.

Trends to Act on Now

Decarbonization in Multiple Sectors

Efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by improving energy efficiency in the building and energy sectors are gaining momentum.

Nature-Based Solutions

Many cities are turning to nature-based solutions to mitigate rising temperatures and worsening mental health issues.

Mass Extinction and Rewilding

Earth is experiencing “the sixth great mass extinction,” with wildlife populations seeing stark declines at rates never before seen in...

Regulating Methane Emissions

The future of regulations to reduce methane, a potent greenhouse gas, is uncertain.

Rising Temperatures and Extreme Heat

Extreme heat is a severe consequence of climate change impacting people, infrastructure, and the environment.

Climate Displacement and Migration

The world is seeing unprecedented climate displacement and migration due to extreme weather and natural disasters.

Increasing Intensity of Natural Disasters

The rising number of natural disasters has had significant impacts on people, property, the environment, and entire communities.

Rising Sea Levels

One of the biggest threats of climate change is rising sea levels caused by the rapid melting of polar ice...

Climate Justice Gains Attention

Underserved communities are most at risk for the direct impacts of climate change.

Declining Air Quality

Poor air quality and smoke from the escalation of wildfires has had major health effects on populations, especially underserved communities.

Legal Rights for Water Bodies

Legal rights for water bodies, including the rights to sue, flow, and be free from pollution, are increasingly being adopted...

DELETE Growing Renewable Energy

Renewable energy is growing rapidly worldwide; investment in solarsurpassed investmentin oil for the first time in 2023, though global renewable...

DELETE Water scarcity grips the world

As the impacts of climate change continue to become more pronounced, people globally are facing increasing shortages of clean water....

DELETE US Government Continues Climate Policies

The U.S. is continuing climate action under the Biden Administration. This is evidenced in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act,...

DELETE The Rise of Youth Climate Action

At the same time, youth in the U.S. and worldwide are also engaging in climate action. In 2023, a Montana...

DELETE Climate Impacts on the Economy

Mitigating the climate crisis requires the adoption of new technologies and industries, which likewise entails developing a workforce to support...

Climate Change Workforce

The demand for a climate change workforce was increasing, though new political directions may affect this trajectory.

Cascading Climate Impacts

As the direct impacts of climate change continue to worsen, they are giving rise to secondary impacts across a wide...

Questioning Carbon Offsets

Carbon offsets are coming under increased scrutiny for concerns about their efficacy and legitimacy.

Big Tech Backtracks on Climate Goals

As investment in energy-intensive AI has skyrocketed, Big Tech companies are beginning to backtrack on prior commitments to reduce or...

Unequal Access to Climate Data

Effectively addressing hazards requires data to predict and prepare for such disasters, but this data is not equally available and...

Increasing Climate Litigation

Lawsuits are emerging as a tool to bring large-scale awareness and action to the growing effects of climate change, though...

Extreme Heat Daily Life Disruptions

Extreme heat negatively impacts everyday life in many ways, and these impacts will be exacerbated as temperatures continue to increase.

Heat and Smoke Days

Extreme heat and wildfire smoke are increasingly causing school closures, and both can cause cognitive and physical harm to children...

Climate Implications for Tourism

Increasing temperatures and extreme heat are negatively affecting tourism revenue at the local and national levels.

Corporate Control of Water

The appropriation of local water supplies by corporate interests is worsening due to commercial water bottling operations and investments in...

Increasing Water Scarcity

Cities and regions are facing water supply and quality issues, creating political tensions and threatening the agricultural sector.

Worsening Water Quality

Water shortages are being exacerbated by issues with water quality, including contamination of drinking water with microplastics and PFAS.

AI’s Growing Environmental Costs

As investments in AI ramp up, the resource use and environmental costs of this technology are also growing.

AI-Powered Sustainability Solutions

While AI has environmental costs, it may also offer sustainability solutions.

Trends to Prepare For

Circular Economy

A framework for sustainable manufacturing and consumption that focuses on the reuse, repair, and recycling of items.

Single-Use Plastic Bans

With a growing consensus on the negative externalities of plastic, more legislation will likely be passed to restrict its use...

Threats of Ecosystem Collapse

The earth's ecosystems are at major risk of collapsing due to the imminent threats of pollution, climate change, and loss...

Threats to Ocean Health

Climate change and unsustainable practices are increasingly threatening ocean health.

Energy Efficiency through Construction

The construction industry is moving towards the use of more sustainable practices and more environmentally friendly materials.

Renewable Energy Growth

Wind and solar energy have been experiencing rapid growth and, in some places, now generate more power than local grids...

Battery Technology Innovations

Excess renewable energy is accelerating storage innovations, including Li-S batteries, supercapacitors, and EV backup systems, enhancing community resilience.