Brain waves

The world is in chaos. There is a war in Europe that threatens to blow up into world-ending proportions. There is a cost of living crisis as we hurtle towards global recessionA period of economic decline. A recession occurs when a country's Gross Domestic Product falls for six months in a row. . And all the while, temperatures are increasing to unsustainable degrees.¹

In 2023, we need to find a way around these predicaments. The best tool we have might be our minds. As the French philosopher VoltaireA French enlightenment writer, historian and philosopher known for his criticism of Christianity and slavery. wrote: "No problem can withstand the assault of sustained thinking."

Here are some of the ideas that could change the world for the better.

Living with nature

We use plastic for everything from clothes to computers. But plastic waste is wreaking havoc on oceans, landscapes and wildlife. We need to stop using so much. But what can we use instead?

One idea gaining force is to create new, entirely natural materials to replace artificial ones. Last year, designer Stella McCartney revealed clothes made from Mylo, a sustainable, vegan leather made from mushrooms. Other firms have revealed furniture made from algae, flower pots made of lobster shells, roofs made from seaweed, buildings made of discarded cork and even pottery made from manure.

At the same time, the idea of giving back to nature is growing. Some regions have granted animals and landscapes personhoodThe legal concept of personhood is not limited to humans. In the USA, for instance, corporations are treated by law as "persons" that have interests and rights. In some legislatures, such as India and New Zealand, legal personhood has been granted to rivers., giving them legal rights against crimes and cruelty.²

Learning from history

Thinkers often look towards the present and future. But 2023 may mark the point where we start to learn from the past.

Cities are turning to ancient techniques to cool themselves down, such as shady gardens, public fountains and covered streets. The Spanish city of Seville has started building underground canals which can reduce heat by 10C, inspired by a 3,000-year old system used in Ancient PersiaA historic region of southwestern Asia, linked to the area that is now Iran. .

Scientists are looking even further back to solve medical problems. Some brain conditions, including autism and Alzheimer's diseaseA progressive disease that causes brain damage over time. It is a common cause of dementia. , were created as the human brain evolved to its modern form. Scientists hope to find treatments for these by studying NeanderthalAn extinct species of human that lived until 40,000 years ago. DNA.

Local before global

We live in an age of globalisationThe growing interdependence of the world's economies, peoples and cultures.. This has brought prosperity for some. But it has fuelled the climate crisis, increased inequality and caused geopolitical tensions. If we instead focus on our immediate surroundings, perhaps we can save the whole.³

Russia's war in Ukraine has increased energy prices and reduced grain supplies. Faced with such a disaster, countries are beginning to focus on making themselves future-proof against global problems by focusing on local renewable power and planting more crops.

Air travel and tourism is a major contribution to climate change. Some places have begun to act. France is banning short-haul flights within its borders. 

Elsewhere, cities are limiting tourism to protect their residents and climate. Venice will introduce an entry ticket for day-trippers. Barcelona has limited the size of groups. Travel magazine Fodor has even created a "no" list of places to avoid visiting in 2023 for their own good.⁴

Yes: Humanity has advanced through a series of great ideas. From the wheel to the combustion engine, paper to the Internet, poulticesA poultice is a soft moist mass, often heated and medicated, that is spread on cloth and placed over the skin to treat an aching, inflamed, or painful part of the body. It can be used on wounds, such as cuts. to painkillers, we owe our health and society to the power of thought. 

No: Thinking is important. But it is the doing that really matters. Our greatest power comes from taking ideas and acting upon them. Too much time spent thinking can stop us getting things done.

Or... The ability to think is an extraordinarily powerful one. But it is also our greatest liability. Ideas can be toxic. Thinking has led us to ruin the Earth, fight wars and pit ourselves against others.