UPM_Biofore_Magazine2016_ENG_160623_e-magazine_72dpi

TEXT MATTI REMES PHOTOGRAPHY JANNE LEHTINEN, UPM; COURTESY OF THE INTERVIEWEE

Megatrends such as population growth, urbanisation and climate change are placing strain on the Earth's carrying capacity. UPM developed its Biofore strategy as a smart response to global sustainability challenges. Smart solutions to global challenges

T he world’s carrying capacity became a widely recognized issue in 1972, when a think tank of scientists known as the Club of Rome published the report The Limits to Growth. One of the authors, futurist Jørgen Randers , predicts that the scarcity of natural resources and population growth will continue to be the most important megatrends shaping the future. “Climate change has now claimed its place among the other two megatrends, as we now have proof of its progression,” says the 70-year-old Norwegian professor.

Randers believes that significantly lower growth figures will remain a dominant economic trend in the next few decades, especially in developed countries. This is due to the ageing population

and a decline in the profitability of work. As society grows wealthier, employment becomes concentrated in the service sector. In addition, health and social services will

Jørgen Randers

employ more people than before. “Increasing productivity in these fields is much harder than in the manufacturing industry or agriculture. I doubt we will be willing to accept robots taking care of the elderly in the future.” Funding the fight against climate change Randers expects to see the world’s GDP (the amount of products and services produced) double within the next

>>

10 | BIOFORE

2/2016  | 11