10 Emerging Technology Solutions for Planetary Health

The report highlights ten emerging technologies designed to address the transgression of seven of nine planetary boundaries. These solutions span clean energy, resource efficiency, biotechnology, and Earth observation, aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, restore biodiversity, and improve resource management. The document emphasizes that while technology is not a panacea, rapid and equitable scaling of these innovations—supported by adaptive policy and blended finance—is essential to returning the planet to a 'safe operating space'.

• Precision fermentation can significantly reduce the environmental footprint of protein production compared to conventional dairy, with potential reductions in greenhouse gas emissions by 72-97%, water use by 81-99%, and land use by up to 99%.
• Green ammonia production aims to decarbonize the energy-intensive Haber-Bosch process by using renewable electricity to split water for green hydrogen or by using microbes and sunlight for direct nitrogen fixation.
• AI-driven automated food waste upcycling is enabling high-efficiency diversion of organic waste from landfills; for example, Seoul has implemented a citywide programme that diverts over 95% of food scraps.
• Methane capture and utilization technologies target potent greenhouse gases from landfills, agriculture, and fossil fuel systems, converting them into energy or industrial inputs like green methanol to provide near-term climate impact.
• Green concrete technologies, including geopolymer binders and CO2 mineralization during curing, can eliminate emissions from Portland cement production and create permanent carbon storage.
• Next-generation bi-directional charging uses wide bandgap semiconductors to allow electric vehicle batteries to supply power back to grids or homes, enhancing energy resilience and renewable energy integration.
• AI-enhanced Earth observation (EO) is moving toward 'digital twins' of the planet, providing metre-scale insights in near real-time to track deforestation, water stress, and emissions hotspots.
• Modular geothermal energy, utilizing closed-loop systems and directional drilling, provides stable, round-the-clock baseload power and heating without requiring specific hydrothermal reservoirs.
• Regenerative desalination, such as electrodialysis with bipolar membranes (EDBM), reduces the environmental impact of water treatment by recovering usable acids and bases from brine instead of discarding it.
• The convergence of proximate sensing, microbiome engineering, and AI for soil health allows for site-specific nutrient management, which reduces fertilizer runoff and increases carbon retention.

APA

World Economic Forum (2025). 10 Emerging Technology Solutions for Planetary Health. https://reports.weforum.org/docs/WEF_10_Emerging_Technology_Solutions_for_Planetary_Health_2025.pdf

Chicago

World Economic Forum. 10 Emerging Technology Solutions for Planetary Health. 2025. https://reports.weforum.org/docs/WEF_10_Emerging_Technology_Solutions_for_Planetary_Health_2025.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Economic Forum |title=10 Emerging Technology Solutions for Planetary Health |date=October 2025 |url=https://reports.weforum.org/docs/WEF_10_Emerging_Technology_Solutions_for_Planetary_Health_2025.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldeconomicforum2025emerging, author = {{World Economic Forum}}, title = {{10 Emerging Technology Solutions for Planetary Health}}, institution = {World Economic Forum}, year = {2025}, month = oct, url = {https://reports.weforum.org/docs/WEF_10_Emerging_Technology_Solutions_for_Planetary_Health_2025.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }