In this IPR Public Lecture, former Government Chief Scientific Adviser Sir John Beddington contests that, though change in the 21st Century is both fast and dramatic, some problems for the next few decades are both predictable and inexorable. Significant challenges exist driven by population growth, complex demography, urbanisation and increasing prosperity, all with a background of significant poverty. Climate change is happening, will continue and is a major risk multiplier. This lecture covers these issues, and examines some of the ways in which these challenges can be addressed.

This IPR Public Lecture took place on 06 February 2014