Global Future Councils And Cybersecurity 2025 Identify Top 10 Emerging Technologies For Climate Resilience

Experts gathered in Dubai for the Annual Meetings of the Global Future Councils and Cybersecurity 2025 to explore emerging technologies that could enhance resilience against climate challenges. The event, held from 14th to 16th October, was organised by the UAE Government with the World Economic Forum (WEF), attracting over 700 specialists from 93 countries across 37 councils.

Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, President and CEO of the UAE Independent Climate Change Accelerators (UICCA), attended a session moderated by Sally Mousa from Forbes Middle East. The panel included Masami Onoda from JAXA, Drew Shindell from Duke University, Leigh Ann Winowiecki from ICRAF, and Yousef Yousef from LG Sonic. "This discussion couldn’t come at a more critical time," said Sally Moussa. "Humanity has already breached seven of the nine planetary boundaries – from biodiversity loss to ocean acidification – exceeding Earth’s safe operating space. Yet, there is still hope. The latest World Economic Forum (WEF) report highlights ten transformative innovations capable of reversing this trajectory. These are not distant concepts; they are scaling now."

The WEF report titled ‘10 Emerging Technology Solutions for Planetary Health’ outlines several innovations. Precision Fermentation uses microbes to produce animal-free proteins with significantly reduced emissions and resource use. Green Ammonia Production replaces fossil fuels with renewables to create low-carbon fertilisers and fuels. Automated Food Waste Upcycling employs AI to recycle up to 95% of food waste into compost and biogas.

Methane Capture and Utilisation transforms methane emissions into renewable energy. Green Concrete reduces cement emissions by up to 90% using carbon capture and recycled materials. Next-Gen Bi-Directional Charging allows EV batteries to power homes, supporting clean energy systems.

Masami Onoda highlighted next-gen Earth observation technologies for tackling air pollution. "Earth observation gives us an extraordinary vantage point," she explained. "Satellites capture data on carbon, water, vegetation, and atmosphere with unmatched precision." Partnerships are crucial for sharing insights with developing nations.

Leigh Ann Winowiecki discussed soil health, emphasising its role in water regulation and food security. She noted that new technologies help understand soil diversity better. "We depend on soil for water regulation, food, and nutrition security; it is the most biodiverse ecosystem on Earth, holding immense potential to store carbon if managed properly," she asserted.

Methane Management and Water Solutions

Drew Shindell addressed methane's impact as a potent greenhouse gas. He mentioned remote sensing for detecting leaks in fossil fuel exploration but stressed new techniques like precision fermentation for agriculture. "Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas, 80 times more potent and responsible for 40% as much warming as CO₂," he explained.

Yousef Yousef shared insights on water management through ultrasound technology to eliminate harmful organisms in water bodies. Scaling such innovations globally requires innovative financing models due to unknowns in technology and markets.

Additional Technological Advancements

The report also highlights Modular Geothermal Energy systems generating low-emission power efficiently. Regenerative Desalination uses renewables to recycle water resources while expanding freshwater access. Soil Health Technology Convergence employs sensors and analytics to restore degraded soils.

The meeting underscored the importance of collaboration between public-private sectors to scale these solutions effectively worldwide.

With inputs from WAM