DIPLOM ATICOURIER.com
A Global Affairs Media Network VO L UME 1 4 I ISSUE 1 I J AN UARY 2020 I DAVOS
2050
[y]our future BY CHRIS LUEBKEMAN, WITH JONELLE SIMUNICH
RETHINKING CREATIVITY WITH ETH ZURICH
GREAT POWERS & URBANIZATION
WORLD INNOVATION SUMMIT ON EDUCATION
3D PRINTING CONCRETE FOR A SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE
CITIES OF THE NEW SILK ROADS AND CITIES IN A WORLD OF STATES
EDUCATION RESEARCH AT WISE PREPARES US FOR THE FUTURE
By Ana Anton p16
By Simon Curtis & Ian Klaus p26
By Allyson Berri p52
Concrete Choreography, Stage Design for the Origen Summer Festival 2019. Digital Building Technologies, ETH Zurich. Image: ETH Zurich / Benjamin Hofer
ETH Zurich — The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology meets you in Davos, Switzerland during the 2020 World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting. Join us for an interactive exhibition and event series at the interface of science and creativity. http://bit.ly/ETHMeetsDavos2020
RETHINKING
»CREATIVITY
D I P L O M AT I C O U R I E R .c o m
COVER STORY WORLD IN 2050
2050 [y]our future BY CHRIS LUEBKEMAN, WITH JONELLE SIMUNICH Dr. Chris Luebkeman is Arup Fellow and Advisor to the President and Executive Board at ETH Zurich. Jonelle Simunich is Senior Strategist at Global Foresight, Research and Innovation at Arup. The full version of the 2050 scenarios can be found at www.arup.com/2050scenarios.
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COVER STORY WORLD IN 2050
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t seems that our understanding of the future is more unsettling than ever. The changes we see around us are both completely understandable and totally baffling. I find myself meandering between hope and despair, between belief and disbelief, in ever increasing amplitude. ‘‘Spaceship earth,” as Buckminster Fuller called it, is a closed system wherein all the resources we need are found, and limited. Like being in a spaceship, we must be conscious of which, and how many resources are used; as their existence and ability to regenerate will determine if we survive or thrive. This is the only planet we have, and it must be able to nurture all living beings, great and small. Today, the natural ecosystems of our planet are degrading at an increasing rate. At the same time, the human condition has never been better. So, why my meandering path? Because, the changes we have witnessed during our geologically minusculely short lifetimes will pale in comparison to those which lie before us. Because, the interaction of these two systems is complex, complicated and on a collision course. Because, we still have the opportunity to write our story of tomorrow which is also an opportunity to change, influence, and drive it towards a future we will be proud of. Arup has aligned its business with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); not just a few, but all 17.
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A multi-year engagement process was undertaken to develop a deeper understanding of what they mean in practice for disciplines, businesses, and different regions. Part of this process was the development of a set of four plausible scenarios, or stories, for the future. It is now recognized that human systems are putting our planetary systems under significant stress. Thus, we thought it appropriate to consider four worlds in which these two systems would be juxtaposed as the axes. Each of the scenarios are compelling for different reasons: from a world where both the societal and natural systems move towards collapse, to one where symbiosis is the baseline for all activities on our planet. We believe that these four worlds are consistent, coherent, and plausible. Sometimes we must push ourselves to think outside of our daily lives, and envision the world as it could be, should be, might be, what we hope it will be and what we hope it won’t be. Although future pathways are not crystal clear, we can, and must, move forward with both aspiration and intent. These scenarios are intended to help us all consider how we craft the parameters of that intent. We hope these four scenarios inspire you to consider how you can be the best ancestor that you can be, for all of humanity both for today and the generations to come.
Introducing The Great Powers and Urbanization Channel By Ian Klaus
the return of great power politics and continuing urbanization are not separate phenomena. Cities have become the economic engines and sites of innovation for nation-states, as well as targets for surveillance and cyber-attacks for national governments.
D I P L O M AT I C O U R I E R .c o m
channel WISE
rethinking education an inside look at wise A Special Report by Allyson Berri
R cEhFaUnGn E e lE S WISE
Creating value for Switzerland, its economy and citizens Cisco Country Digital Acceleration Strategy #CiscoCDA #SwissCDA
www.cisco.ch/cda