Trend Megatrend 4: Climate crisis and sustainability

Summary

The fourth megatrend holds that a systematic response to the climate crisis and environmental destruction has become central to human survival. Securing sustainability is expected to depend on achieving carbon neutrality, building a circular economy, transforming energy systems and responding to health crises. Its key terms span carbon neutrality, circular economy, climate response, green finance, climate governance, energy transition, health crises and pandemics. The report observes that Korea, too, faces environmental change from rising temperatures. Because its manufacturing-centred economy consumes much energy while renewable expansion faces physical limits, the report calls for a fundamental reshaping of energy governance alongside technological innovation. The megatrend contains four trends on accelerating climate crisis, ecological crisis, the energy transition and threats to sustainable health systems.