Biggest Changes in 2070
Space travel will become more accessible and affordable, with new commercial space ventures offering flights to tourists and researchers. Humans may even have established permanent settlements on the Moon or Mars by 2070.Medicine will have advanced significantly, with new treatments and cures for many diseases. People could live longer and healthier lives than ever before.Transportation will be revolutionized by new technologies such as self-driving cars and hyperloop trains. This will make it easier and faster to travel around the world.
Those who won’t see 2070 are getting anxious about what is inevitably facing younger people in their immediate circle. They are acutely mindful that the beauty of Earth, and its life-sustaining powers, are no longer guaranteed – and that nature is under almost intttolerable strain.Within a few decades, vast tracts of the planet are likely to become scarred landscapes or bleached lifeless seas because of rising temperatures driven by emissions associated with fossil fuel-use and human activities. Deep sea diving to view the coral beds of the Great Barrier Reef. A honeymoon in the Maldives. Sea fishing in Seychelles. Skiing in the Alps. All are likely to be regarded as the privileged activities of previous uncaring generations.
Construction via self-assembling nanotechnology has been around for a number of decades. Until now, the process was only practical using bulky and/or conspicuous machinery, nanofabricators, or objects suspended in tanks of catalytic fluids.* However, recent advances in nanorobotics have allowed for more subtle and rapid construction of macro-scale objects in a more compact form-factor and with less impact on Earth's natural resources. As happened with early nanotech adoption in the 2020s, one of the easiest and most common applications has been in fabrics. Today, a high-end home "closet" may consist of simply a thin surface or pad built into the wall or floor, concealing a mass of nanobots and molecular building materials. A user can stand on or touch this surface and issue instructions to the machine (through voice command or virtual telepathy) for what to create. Each nanobot is then programmed with the final clothing design and set into motion.
The process begins with each nanobot organising and categorising each building molecule, based on the aggregate material needed and where each piece will be located in the finished product. The nanobots – also called "foglets" – then begin interlocking with themselves, forming a basic "skeleton" on which building molecules can be attached.
4. Plastic recycling rates are approaching 100% worldwide
By the early 2070s, plastic recycling is ubiquitous globally. Although some of the most rural and isolated areas still lack the required infrastructure and facilities, they now represent a negligible percentage.Belgian chemist Leo Baekeland invented the world's first synthetic plastic, Bakelite, in 1907. Improvements in chemical technology led to an explosion of new types of plastic, with mainstream adoption beginning in the 1940s and 50s. Production expanded at a phenomenal rate during the second half of the 20th century – from two million tons annually in 1950, to more than 200 million tons each year by 2000. With no end in sight to this upward trajectory and in light of concerns over its slow decomposition after disposal, as well as its toxicity, recycling emerged as a solution from the 1980s onwards. This was more environmentally friendly than incineration, or waste-to-energy methods, which had also begun some years before.
5. The number of trillionaires in the world exceeds 10
6. Meat consumption is declining globally
During the early 21st century, concerns grew over the environmental, ethical, health, and other impacts of meat consumption. Plant-based and alternative diets became increasingly common. This trend began in wealthier countries, where greater access to information and a wider variety of food options made it easier for consumers to make informed, ethical choices. Advances in food technology also played a role, as innovations in plant-based meat alternatives offered increasingly delicious and nutritionally balanced options, challenging the culinary status quo. Social media influencers, celebrity endorsements, and public health campaigns further fuelled the shift, encouraging a new generation to reevaluate traditional food norms and embrace more sustainable and ethical dietary practices.This gradual change in consumer behaviour had far-reaching implications – affecting everything from agricultural policies and land use, to global supply chains and restaurant menus. Ultimately, it set the stage for a more sustainable and conscious approach to food and nutrition in the decades to follow.
However, despite the emerging trend in wealthier nations, meat consumption remained popular and with rising demand in many poorer and middle-income countries throughout the early and mid-21st century. Cultural preferences, economic factors, and the symbolic association of meat consumption with prosperity and status all contributed to its continued popularity in these regions. Meat consumption in wealthier countries peaked by the 2010s, and in upper-middle income countries by the 2040s. But global demand continued to rise until the early 2070s,* while lower-middle income and poorer countries would see continued growth in demand until 2100.By 2075, the world has reached a turning point for meat, spurred by a confluence of technological, environmental, and social factors. In addition to a substantial increase in plant-based diets, lab-grown meat has seen widespread adoption, thanks to massive advances in cellular agriculture. No longer the preserve of developed countries, it has become cheap and widely available in grocery stores, restaurants, and even fast-food chains the world over.
This global pivot is having dramatic consequences for land use and conservation efforts. Millions of acres, once dedicated to feed crops and grazing land, are now being reclaimed for reforestation, rewilding, renewable energy, and other green projects. Greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture have declined by an unprecedented amount, which, combined with gigaton-scale direct air capture and other efforts, is helping to stabilise climate change.At the same time, public health indicators are showing promising trends. Incidences of diet-related diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular issues are on a noticeable decline, thanks to more balanced, plant-centric diets. Governments are also beginning to reorient healthcare budgets, increasingly investing in preventative measures rather than treating diet-related illnesses.
Many areas of geological interest, which are being visited by explorers and researchers keen to claim their place in the history books.Mars had gained a human presence some decades earlier. The first permanent base was followed by another, then another. By 2078, the population, infrastructure and self-sufficiency have all grown to such an extent that Mars will soon be ready to declare independence. Water, food and energy supplies are being handled by increasingly heavy use of robotics and general automation. Originally intended for scientists and other researchers, these stations are now experiencing a steady influx of regular citizens, keen to escape Earth and begin a new life on the Red Planet.
In addition to habitats on the Moon and Mars, a large and ever-growing number of mining operations are dotted around near-Earth objects, main belt asteroids and others, with some as far out as the Trojans of Jupiter. These are providing an abundance of previously rare metals and minerals, which has caused a dramatic fall in the price of certain commodities. The operations are almost entirely automated and overseen by powerful artificial intelligences, requiring little or no human input. A network of refuelling stations now provides a ready source of propellant – made from separating water into hydrogen and oxygen, for example – the equivalent of space-based filling stations that enable longer, cheaper and faster journeys.With much of the inner Solar System now home to a thriving economy, attention has turned to the untapped potential of the gas giants. For government and commercial interests, by far the most promising candidate is Saturn's largest moon, Titan.
8. Advances in space travel and tourism
By the late 21st century, the frontiers of human space exploration have shifted from the Moon, Mars and inner Solar System, to more distant locations in the outer Solar System.The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), formed in 1958, remains in operation after 120 years. However, the agency's funding is now negligible compared to that of the private sector, which has turned space into a multi-trillion dollar industry.
The cost of launching people and cargo into space has declined substantially over the last century. From $85,000 per kilogram a hundred years earlier, it is now less than a dollar per kilogram.* This means that even people on relatively low incomes have access to Earth orbit – thanks to a new generation of rockets and space planes, alongside the recent development of a space elevator. Basic orbital cruises are therefore taken for granted by most people and regarded in much the same way as a long-haul airplane flight, or visit to a famous landmark; something that most people do every few years. For those with a little extra money, trips around the Moon are available, along with extended stays at a number of private hotels in cislunar space
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