Our “wicked problems” in sustainability are filled with solutions that solve part of one problem but exacerbate the problem elsewhere. For example, moving to electric vehicles shifts greenhouse gas emissions from the streets to mines and power plants. Further, there is a lack of business incentivization and pricing for these sustainability issues coupled with a disconnect between government, innovators and solution/technology providers and the community at large. These gaps coupled with ineffective and misplaced policy priorities have led to ineffective solutions, leading to our inability to solve overflowing landfills and other such sustainability challenges and the widening inequality symptoms that result from inefficient action.
To address these issues, we need to articulate a robust framework for decisions and actions to affect appropriate policy through an effective discussion and decision framework. Such discussions should be designed to alleviate economic inequality and reverse environmental degradation/ the discussions should also be driven by scientific assessment for sustainable all-round development that involves all stakeholders through continuous dialogue. We must also adopt sound digital technologies to ensure robust implementation and address last-mile vulnerabilities.