We recently published our partner JA studio's findings on the status quo of our world. The Optimism is Blooming in a World Gone Mad publication shared the thoughts, worries and ideas of 138 design thinkers and doers in our network.
We've previously looked at concerning global challenges and ground-breaking solutions, and today we're looking at the status quo of our world. First of all, Mother Earth knows we're in trouble and there are some devastating facts that should frighten us all.
As things are now, it's impossible to halt the melting of the polar ice caps, and there are around 70,000 species of plants facing extinction. We've all heard about the rising sea levels that will impact millions upon millions of people and, currently, just as many people are living in poverty, disasters and warzones.
But while we're hard at work finding effective ways to reverse our wrong-doings, there's also something to celebrate. Over several years, the global community has made an impact in creating better lives, education and businesses. Regarding the latter, there's now 93% of the world's 250 largest companies reporting on sustainability, and 108 countries have national policies on the matter.
"In 2015, 71% of the global population had access to safe drinking water, and since 2001, the maternal mortality rate has fallen by 31%."
The livelihoods of people in developing countries have also increased. The number of slums is declining, 87% of the global population has access to electricity, and over the last 23 years, the number of people in extreme poverty has been halved. In 2015, 71% of the global population had access to safe drinking water, and since 2001, the maternal mortality rate has fallen by 31%.
People from all over have also seen huge benefits over the last decades. Early childhood and primary education are rising steadily, while labour productivity has increased, and unemployment is down. In the US, despite the prevalence of school- and mass-shootings mentioned in the media, crime is declining, and gun-murders are steadily falling.
And despite the devastating reports on the Amazon and, most recently, Australia burning, forest loss has indeed slowed. The protection of forest and terrestrial ecosystems is very much on the rise.
So although we're in urgent need of slowing our consumption, adapting our lifestyles and demanding better over-arching initiatives, we can also dwell on the accomplishments and on-going fight to improve lives all over.
Stay tuned for more updates...
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Image: Gianandrea Villa
