Covering Themes in RuleWatcher

Global Environmental Issues

Climate Mitigation

Mitigating climate change relies on global cooperation, financial investment and technological innovation. A comprehensive shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources is necessary. Carbon pricing and carbon taxes are financial mechanisms that should be adopted more widely, with measures taken to prevent greenwashing. Investment in non-industrial methods of carbon absorption and sequestration, such as agroforestry, regenerative agriculture, composting and biochar, is beginning to increase. There is no time to lose in implementing scientifically-backed, effective mitigation measures that can be widely adopted by nations, companies, regions and individuals. RuleWatcher exists to prevent people from falling into short-sighted, individualistic solutions to this problem.

Filter by tags like these: floating wind turbine, green hydrogen, energy harvesting, microgrid, CCUS, carbon market, biochar, biofuel, green metal, nuclear fusion, e-fuel, SAF, and so on.

Climate Adaptation

Climate risks such as extreme weather events, rising sea levels, ocean acidification, droughts and forest fires are becoming more and more serious, threatening ecosystems and food security. Climate change adaptation refers to the efforts and adjustments made by the natural environment and human society to reduce damage, manage risks and improve resilience in response to the effects caused by climate change. Governments and international organizations are now beginning to take action in the face of this threat, but economic disparity is directly linked to vulnerability, and there are still many problems standing in the way of equitable adaptation. The answer to adapting to a changing climate is not uniform. RuleWatcher's “Climate Adaptation” will continue to evolve so that we can seek out a variety of climate change adaptation measures that achieve people's happiness while keeping a scientific eye on the situation.

Filter by tags like these: climate-smart infrastructure, compact city, green infrastructure, smart agriculture, thermal energy storage, new infectious disease, early warning systems, Global Goal on Adaptation, climate education, Ecosystem-based Adaptation, climate refugees, and so on.

Water Issues

Global issues related to freshwater, such as water shortages, droughts, and excessive extraction of groundwater, are becoming more serious due to climate change and unsustainable water management, and are becoming a major risk each year as a source of conflict and war. There is a need for greater investment in technologies and activities to improve water resilience, such as rainwater harvesting, and water sanitation and treatment systems are not keeping up with the ongoing urbanization taking place around the world. In addition, the problem of aging infrastructure in developed countries is becoming more serious. In many cases, groundwater, lakes and rivers are shared by two or more countries or regions, and we cannot overlook the “virtual water” contained in crops for trade. In order to reduce global water stress, it is essential to establish international rules for policies that focus on equitable, cross-border water management. Please use RuleWatcher to help with this issue.

Filter by tags like these: Water resource management, Water security, Desalination, Water positive, Soil erosion, Wild fire, Vertical farming, Global south, Water crisis, Transboundary waters, water sanitation and hygiene, and so on.

Biodiversity

The loss of biodiversity and the degradation of ecosystems are progressing rapidly. Forest fires, desertification, coral bleaching and ocean acidification are becoming more noticeable due to climate change. The damage caused by human activities, such as deforestation, monoculture, the development of peatlands and overfishing, which directly affect ecosystems, is also serious and far exceeds the resilience of ecosystems. Policies such as sustainable fishing, community forests, and renewable fuel standards aim to mitigate these impacts. There is a growing proposal that integrating environmental economics and ecological economics will enable the quantification and protection of natural assets. Why not use RuleWatcher to explore together what we need to do to achieve Nature Positive?

Filter by tags like these: Area-based Management Tools, Marine Protected Area, Genetic diversity, Bioinformatics, Life-cycle Impact assessment Method, Nature positive, Regenerative, Natural capital, Biological pump, Peatland, Smart forestry, TNFD, and so on.

Plastic Issues

While plastics are used in all areas of our lives and bring us great benefits, their pollution is also serious, spreading not only in oceans and rivers but also in the air as invisible dust. Since this problem has been brought to the fore, governments around the world have strengthened plastic regulations, and companies have begun to work on biodegradable materials and improvements to recycling systems. However, each of these methods has its own merits and demerits, and international consensus on the most important issue of restricting plastic production itself is facing difficulties. The scope of the issues to be addressed is wide-ranging, including the identification of harmful plastics, the scope of bans, and methods of providing financial assistance to developing countries. The issue of plastics is one that we at RuleWatcher have been paying attention to from the earliest days.

Filter by tags like these: Robotic waste sorting, Rubber recycling, Bioplastic, Biodegradable, Nano plastics, Tyre abrasion, End-of-Life Vehicles, Extended Producer Responsibility, Chain of custody, Smart packaging, Traditional craft, Biomass naphtha, Cellulose nanofibers, and so on.

Technology and Society Challenges

Intelligent Vehicle

Intelligent vehicles, such as self-driving cars, unmanned aircraft, and autonomous ships, are bringing about various changes in our society. The Internet of Vehicles (IoV) will enable networked vehicles to communicate, and it is expected that this will dramatically expand the options for logistics and urban transportation. However, regulatory challenges remain, particularly with regard to safety standards, liability, and data privacy. In addition, despite the magnitude and speed of the threat, there has been little progress in discussions on international rule-making with regard to the greatest threat of all, autonomous weapons. Please access RuleWatcher for information on how to build a framework for “autonomous” technologies that have both merits and demerits while promoting innovation, and to realize cooperation between governments, industry, researchers, and non-governmental organizations.

Filter by tags like these: V2V communication, autonomous underwater vehicle, intelligent transport, dynamic map, Battery as a Service, multimodal AI, nuclear-powered drone, micromobility, urban air mobility, technological unemployment, cybersecurity, smart logistics, delivery robot, and so on.

Impact of Blockchain

Blockchain technology is expected to be the basis for supply chain tracking and cross-border payments. On the other hand, there are concerns about energy consumption and misuse. Since blockchain is a technology that is used across borders, its regulation also needs to be done without regard to national borders. Policymakers around the world are trying to strike a balance between innovation and regulation. Please use RuleWatcher to collect information on the impact of this new technology.

Filter by tags like these: cryptocurrency, crypto market, decentralized application, quantum computing, quantum key, Personally Identifiable Information, smart contract, data market place, distributed file system, Central bank digital currency, DAO, sharing economy, NFT, carbon offset, temperature control, and so on.

ELSI in Space Tech

While space technology is expected to bring a variety of benefits, it also raises a range of concerns related to exploration, security, and sustainability. Issues such as space debris, satellite surveillance, and space situational awareness (SSA) are becoming increasingly important as more spacecraft and satellites enter orbit. The expansion of planetary exploration and the establishment of lunar infrastructure, as well as the regulation of these activities, need to be addressed simultaneously. The proliferation of space forces and ballistic missiles is causing security concerns, and space law and regulations are struggling to keep up. Ensuring sustainable space development and peaceful use remains an important issue for policymakers around the world. By looking at the great commons of space through RuleWatcher, we believe that we can deepen our understanding of the commons around us.

Filter by tags like these: Non-terrestrial networks, remotely operated vehicle, space robotics, remote sensing, Global High-Resolution Atmospheric Forecasting, National Land Monitoring, Space-Based Solar Power, Artemis program, COPERNICUS, development of space resources, space agriculture, space habitation, space debris, Space Situational Awareness, space weather, military satellite, space force, space weapon, and so on.

Privacy Protection

Since the second half of the 19th century, when photography became widespread, privacy has been discussed as a social issue. Now, we are facing a situation where we must re-discuss this issue in a new form due to subsequent technological innovation. Issues such as tracking the spread of infection during a pandemic and requests for data access in criminal investigations, as well as improvements in authentication accuracy through biometric technologies such as facial recognition and fingerprint authentication, are all trade-offs with privacy protection. In addition, the fierce competition surrounding the development of AI in recent years involves the risk of privacy protection being put on the back burner in national decisions, in order to collect and analyze large amounts of personal information as big data. Please use RuleWatcher to investigate trends surrounding the best balance of privacy rights.

Filter by tags like these: Anonymization, End-to-End Encryption, Facial Recognition System, Zero-Knowledge Encryption, biometrics, surveillance camera, online behavioral tracking, algorithmic transparency, data sovereignty, right to be forgotten, right to opt-out, cybersecurity, Surveillance Capitalism, profiling, Third-Party Data Sharing, and so on.

Life and Rights

Corporate Human Rights

As companies face challenges related to fair labor, proper labor, and responsible procurement, the issue of business and human rights is attracting increasing attention. Major concerns include forced labor, child labor, low wages, and unsafe working environments that are often overlooked in the supply chain. Non-governmental organizations and others working on human rights issues are calling for greater transparency and accountability in business, and these are gradually being reflected in rules such as human rights due diligence. However, there are still various issues to be addressed in protecting those in vulnerable positions in society, and new responses are needed to deal with the destabilization of the working environment brought about by new technologies. We believe that deepening understanding of these issues through RuleWatcher will help to address this issue.

Filter by tags like these: decent work, fair wages, remote work, grievance mechanism, forced labour, child labour, Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities, supply chain, human rights due diligence, greenwashing, activist investor, just transition, labour legislation, DE&I, quota system, and so on.

Food System

The world's food system is facing numerous challenges, including agricultural pollution, soil erosion, deforestation, and overfishing, and geopolitical risks are also contributing to food insecurity. Human rights issues, such as the exploitation of what is known as modern slavery, still remain in food production, and support is essential to maintain the multifaceted values of the natural environment supported by small-scale farmers and their connections with local communities, rather than large-scale production monoculture. Promoting traceability in food production and distribution is also important for reducing food loss and waste, strengthening food sovereignty, and increasing resilience to future food crises. In RuleWatcher's “Food System” you will find a variety of policies that need to be addressed, such as old and new commons policies and new fishery management using digital technology.

Filter by tags like these: vertical farming, agroecology, gene editing, regenerative, dynamic pricing in retail, smallholding, overfishing, cultured meat, precision fermentation, food printing, next-generation protein, biopesticide, food security, traceability, waste and loss, cold chain, and so on.

World Education

As society changes rapidly, the kind of education that is required is also changing significantly. Learning is important not only for school-age children, but also for working people, and with people living longer, lifelong education is becoming more important. The advent of AI is having a significant impact on both the purpose of education and the methods used to provide it. E-learning has greatly expanded access to areas that were previously unable to receive educational services. However, there are still vast numbers of people who are unable to access education due to factors such as the educational infrastructure (e.g. internet access, basic learning environment) and economic circumstances. If you are interested in education in your own country, please use RuleWatcher to get information about education in other countries. There you will see the difficulties and efforts being made in various societies, and We are sure you will find hints for your next step.

Filter by tags like these: active learning, inquiry based learning, distance education, gamification, liberal arts, gifted education, inclusive education, disparity, learning disability, school safety, school refusal, VUCA, green skills, ICT, mental health, cram school, and so on.

Universal Human Rights

Human rights issues that threaten people in vulnerable positions remain a serious global issue. Violations such as human trafficking, forced labor, gender-based violence, and hate crimes continue to occur due to discriminatory laws, prejudice, and inadequate protection. Crimes committed by some marginalized individuals and groups reinforce discriminatory views of vulnerable groups such as immigrants, and policies that exclude such people are increasing the sense of division. There is an increasing need for a stronger and more comprehensive framework, as well as for creating a momentum among people that the dignity and rights of all people are important. This issue, which has been with humanity since ancient times, depends greatly on the perspective of each individual. The broad, panoramic information that can be seen from RuleWatcher should help us to raise our perspective.

Filter by tags like these: health equity, freedom of speech, social isolation, social solidarity economy, well-being, hikikomori, environmental rights, affordable housing, child sex abuse, digital rights, reproductive rights, crimes against humanity, inclusive design, and so on.

Transformative Economies

Sustainable Finance

Sustainable finance, including green bonds, impact investment, ESG investment, and responsible investment, has gradually become more common since the middle of the 2010s, and is encouraging the provision of funds for renewable energy and low-carbon technology, and is beginning to take a financial approach to issues such as poverty, education, and healthcare. The addition of environmental and social considerations to corporate evaluation, along with the existence of governance to support this, is expected to lead to long-term value creation. While finance has the effect of motivating human society, sustainable finance still lacks a unified standard, and there is a risk of it being just a facade (greenwashing). In addition, sustainable finance is not necessarily attractive to companies and investors who prioritize short-term profits. Why not follow the future of this developing sustainable finance with RuleWatcher?

Filter by tags like these: Sustainability Linked Loan, carbon credit, carbon insetting, taxonomy, nature-based, carbon leakage, hard-to-abate industry, TCFD, SBTi, capital adequacy, impact, externality, internal carbon pricing, NGFS, and so on.

Circular Economy

The circular economy, aimed at eliminating waste and pollution, keeping products and resources in continuous use, and regenerating nature, represents a transformative shift from the traditional linear economy of mass production and consumption. However, this transition faces numerous challenges, including inadequate resource recovery technologies, limited adoption of digital solutions, difficulties in establishing sustainable business models, inconsistent international standards and regulations, and low consumer awareness. To overcome these barriers, use RuleWatcher to gather essential information and foster collaboration between governments, industries, and civil society.

Filter by tags like these: mass balance , ease of disassembly, by-product, remanufacturing, waste to energy, green steel, battery recycling, extended producer responsibility, right to repair, zero-waste, well-being, resource efficiency, mass customization, sharing, and so on.

Re-think Capitalism

It is increasingly said that modern capitalism is facing limitations in addressing issues such as inequality, poverty, environmental degradation, and social welfare. As economic inequality worsens and technological unemployment due to AI and automation is anticipated, some countries and regions have begun experimenting with universal credit and basic income. The need for stronger social safety nets has become evident, and more companies are prioritizing stakeholders and local communities. As societies aim to enhance social welfare and protect and restore the natural environment, GDP, once the standard measure of economic prosperity, is no longer considered sufficient. Why not use RuleWatcher to track how frameworks like Well-being and new models such as Degrowth and gift economies are being implemented in policies?

Filter by tags like these: economic inequality, tax avoidance, global south, basic income, benefit corporation, commons, social credit, safety net, municipalism, platform capitalism, philanthrocapitalism, greenflation, beyond growth, stakeholder capitalism, e-vouchers, and so on.