The World in 2030 #1: What To Expect?

The year 2030 seems so far away that it may seem like an impossible fantasy to imagine what the world will look like by then. But the year 2030 isn’t as distant as you might think, and with some careful planning now, you can make sure your business can adapt to its changing environment no matter what happens in the future. Here are some of the biggest trends and predictions for how the world will look in 2030, including both environmental and technological changes, as well as social changes that have already begun to take place but will continue to grow in prevalence over the next two decades.

---

---

Before you read on, I have a disclaimer. Trying to predict what’s going to happen more than 5 years from now is tough—especially when it comes to technology. That said, predicting what’s going to happen is always a good idea. While I don’t know for sure what will happen over the next years, we do know that there are huge changes coming in many different areas of our lives—changes that are already starting and will continue throughout our lifetimes. To get some perspective on those coming changes and see how they might affect you or your organization, imagine looking into your crystal ball... You find yourself surrounded by other leaders from around your company... You are all thinking about three specific questions: What’s changing? How fast? And how should I respond? This quick exercise can help everyone understand where their industry is headed and where they need to invest their time and resources. By asking these three questions, organizations can gain insights into where things are headed so they can take action today. And if you’re an individual, doing something like this exercise can help you make better decisions about your career and life overall

---

---

Technology has evolved to be an important aspect of our lives. It’s changing how we work, where we live, and how we shop. With that trend not slowing down anytime soon, we’re going to talk about some ways technology will affect our world by 2030. From smart phones and virtual reality to private space travel and 3D printed homes, there are more advances coming than you can shake a stick at. Want to know what they all mean? Stay tuned! We’ll cover everything from augmented reality glasses to robots and driverless cars. In other words, buckle up because it’s going to be an interesting ride!.

---

---

A snapshot of how science will affect our lives: Our world is becoming increasingly tech-savvy and science-based every day. From medicine and environmental protection to computers and food production, we're becoming dependent on science as never before.
As we enter a new decade, it’s easy to get caught up in what you know or believe today. After all, some things never change—the sun will still rise tomorrow, your boss will continue asking if you have that report done yet, and you’ll be annoyed by both of these things. But as we look ahead to 2030, a very different picture starts to emerge—one where everything around us is changing at an incredible pace. Our lives are being transformed thanks to advances in science and technology; and according to futurists like Ray Kurzweil, these changes could unfold even faster than predicted. By 2030, life as we know it may be unrecognizable.

---

---

Imagine taking a trip back to 2010. You would be visiting a world with no Uber, no selfie, and no Fitbit.

The world in 2030 will be quite different from the world we live in today—and not just because of technological developments, although those will certainly shape our lives significantly. And while it may be tempting to think of 2030 as little more than some far-off point in the future, it’s important to understand how much things will change over the next 8 years in order to take advantage of opportunities and prepare for challenges that lie ahead. Here are some key predictions about the world in 2030.

1) World Population

The World by 2030 is an ever-changing place. The global population will rise to 9 billion, energy resources will be stressed, cities will continue to expand, and climate change and geopolitical shifts will be significant threats. All of these developments, along with a series of other trends, will require new ways of managing resources and driving innovation. What does all of that mean? The world as we know it today—and as we can expect it to look tomorrow—will be vastly different from what it was just two decades ago.

2) War

Since World War II, wars have been fought over resources, ideology and patriotism. However, as more people move into cities and countries become more interdependent on each other to survive economically, war becomes less likely. Instead of fighting themselves over a dwindling supply of oil or territory, city-dwellers will most likely rely on importing what they need from neighbors. For example, if farmers in one country grow too much food for their local market, they could ship excess produce to a nearby town that needs it or pay another farmer to do so. Over time, hostilities may decline with rising interdependence—though it’s also possible that posturing between countries could rise as politicians struggle to stay popular by appearing tough on trade deals and terrorism.

3) Global Warming

Climate change isn’t just bad for polar bears, it’s going to have an impact on our lives. Droughts, famine and massive population shifts are all predicted results of global warming, according to Prakash. The World Health Organization estimates that an additional 250 million people will die from malnutrition by 2030 due to climate change. Beyond our lifetimes, temperatures are expected to continue rising until we reach a disastrous 5 degrees Celsius of warming by 2100. If you thought last summer was hot...think again. And don’t forget about extreme weather: Increased temperatures lead to more frequent storms with deadly droughts and floods like Hurricane Katrina and Superstorm Sandy as well as longer fire seasons that result in wildfires like those seen recently across Colorado.

4) Economics

There’s no way to make predictions with any degree of certainty, but one thing is certain: The world will be more globalized than ever before by 2030. In 2015, a record 12 percent of people were born outside their country of citizenship. By 2025, it could be as high as 16 percent. While these numbers don’t include expats who have chosen to return home (an estimated 4 million in 2010), they do point toward a growing interest in foreign countries and increased comfort with cultural diversity. Another trend pointing toward globalism?, maybe.

---

---

New technologies, new energy, new economies and even a few advances in agriculture have changed society dramatically over recent decades. They will continue to do so well into the future.