What Would Be......

[banker_frank]

the best possible scenario for how the world will develop in the next 25 years? What do we need to do to get there?

[Old_Geezer]

Dunno Ed. Define what's possible.

[banker_frank]

Possible: adjective
that may or can exist, happen, be done, be used, etc.:

[albaqwerty]

'What do we need to do to get there?'

Depends what you expect to find at your destination.

[Old_Geezer]

Not overly useful. Is agreement to end all wars forever, possible ? Theoretically yes, practically no.

[banker_frank]

'best possible' as in ' most likely achievable'

[banker_frank]

.

[Baldric]

[Old_Geezer]

Perhaps the EU will disappear and a proper trade block arise in its place.
One assumes tech and the various sciences will continue to develop.
Maybe China will lay off of Hong Kong's culture.
Could be anything really. Maybe the Middle East and Africa will stop the violence. Elsewhere too hopefully.

[ProfessorMaisie]

I think we have to find a way to reduce waste dramatically and recycle it in an energy efficient way. I think we need to invent -
A Standard Carton.

Same shape but different sizes (to ideally fit within bulk carriers).
Alternative opening mechanisms for solids, liquids etc.
Made from a lightweight combustible (clean-burn at very high temperatures) material that's collapsible to aid recycling.
At the end point it's burnt for energy, not dumped all over the planet.

The only design (advertising?) variable would be in the labelling, but do we really need to express our 'wonderful creativity' as a species in Tesco and lidl and the like?

[vetuste_ennemi]

Firstly consider the the impediments to a freer and more prosperous future. Reconsider or remind ourselves (or, in the case of younger people, discover for the first time) the ideological principles which underly Western civilisation and its amazing successes.

These are, variously, the spirit of free enquiry which produced modern science, and the construction of stable institutions which could enforce contractual obligations and thereby encourage commerce. In the specific case of Britain the latter point would be labelled "Common Law" which is why everybody in the world wants to go to the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the USA to live and to do business and nobody from any one of Britain's "colonised" territories wants to go and live in Eritrea etc.

And, in answer to the OP, oppose fascist ideologues who wish to suppress free speech and embrace and copy the winning formula which produces health, wealth and freedom.

That's my advice to poor countries who aspire to be better off.

My advice to Western countries who are at the moment well off is be careful whom you invite into your home.

[douglas9401]

Have a go at a war to end all wars, that should tide us over for five years or so afterwards.

[ProfessorMaisie]

No, neither of those - we just need the carton.

[vetuste_ennemi]

Carton?

It's a far, far better thing I do...

[vetuste_ennemi]

Head 'em off at the pass.

Or is that Hopalong Cassidy?

[ProfessorMaisie]

...it's not that elusive.