This collection of insights from www.futureagenda.org were used as stimulus for an RNLI Futures Workshop. The workshop would generate future oriented scenarios that could yield value creation and lifesaving opportunities for the RNLI in the future.

1. Where People and Water Collide | An Initial Perspective
Insights from Multiple Expert Discussions, curated by Future Agenda
27 April 2016

2. Context
This initial perspective on ‘Where people and water collide’ is a deeper study of
a subset of the Future Agenda 2.0 global discussions on the Future of Water.
It is an initial view to be shared, challenged, built upon and enhanced.
Initial
Perspectives
Q4 2014
Global
Discussions
Q1-3 2015
Insight
Synthesis
Q4 2015
Sharing of
Output /
Deeper Study
2016

3. Closing the Inequality Gap
One of the challenges facing the state is how to balance equity
and autonomy. A centralised system is often viewed to be
more equitable at the expense of autonomy.

4. Prevention and Self-Reliance
An opportunity exists for the social sector to transform itself – and influence
the state - from a focus on acute needs to that of prevention and on improving
the self-reliance of individuals and communities over the longer-term.

5. Water Wars
Access to water supplies will play an increasingly important role
in violent regional conflict, with water assets becoming prime targets,
prized spoils and even weapons in their own right.

6. Hard Choices
In a society where there is a widening gulf between rich and poor,
the rich may live increasingly separate lives and
provide for their own “public services”.

7. Unchartered Waters
The issues facing oceans have led to the establishment of a UN Sustainable
Development Goal dedicated to ocean conservation. As problems become more visible
to many we will see increased recognition of the need for better governance.

8. Silver Surfers
Over 60’s, the Active Third Age, are staying active longer as they aim to keep the
body and mind stimulated. From 2002 – 2014 the volume increase in water sports
participation in the age bracket of those aged 55+ stands at 66%.

9. Filled to the Gunwales
The maritime sector is global, mobile and growing. Ships carry 80% of global trade
and with international trade forecast to grow strongly, seaborne trade is expected to
increase rapidly to match demand, which is predicted to double by 2030 (from 2015).

10. Changing Role of Government
Entities compete with the state for influence - environmental, human rights, and other
activist NGOs – and operate at many levels of government around the world. This new
dynamic changes the role of the state.

11. Real Cost of Water
Users are likely to have to pay for the real cost of infrastructure. One short-
term option is the financial recycling of assets and capital. However, in the
longer-term we will have to pay the true value for key resources.

12. Meeting Demand With Limited Capacity
There is a need for increased government capacity to deal with the increased
demands placed on the state. In many countries, this has been exacerbated by
an underinvestment in public sector capacity over the past few decades.

13. Digital Engagement
Cities are using digital platforms to better plan for the future and encourage public
engagement. Using new technology and big data to support strategic planning of a city
can help improve public engagement with the process.

14. Creating Skills Demand
Stimulating demand from NfPs for sustained leadership development can help
ensure the long-term heath of the sector but requires that funders and
regulators instil and measure against an agreed leadership code.

15. Readiness for Water Scarcity
Currently half of the world’s cities with more than 100,000 in habitants
are situated in areas experiencing water scarcity. To date neither
governments nor businesses have done enough to prepare for this.

16. Valuing Eco-system Services
Growing recognition of the economic value of ecosystem services leads to core
business considerations which recognise their explicit value. Natural
capital/assets will become more commonplace in accounting systems.

17. Pop-up Economies
Crowd-sourcing will enable ‘pop-up economies’ where communities pool
resources and so reduce the need for government involvement. The downside
is that communities create their own identity making “them and us” obvious.

18. Water Resistance
Technological and process developments make the production of high
quality water from storm-water and wastewater feasible and practical;
driving public, political and commercial acceptance of recycled water.

19. 10 Seconds of Attention
Increased consumer choices and channels leave brands fighting for 10 seconds of
attention. A new paradigm will emerge, based on dynamic, fast-moving,
calls to action rather than long-term relationships with delayed rewards.

20. Crowd Truthing
Such is the influence of the rising data swirl that “truth” may well
become what the online crowds agree to: We see a world where
‘crowd truth verification’ is prioritised over search and media.

21. Business Solutions to Societal Problems
Re-visioning the role of business in society may lead to a reduction in
inequality, less partisan politics and greater action as businesses take the lead
rather than waiting for Government to lead them.

22. Collaborative Business Models
Partnerships shift to become more dynamic, agile, long-term, democratised
and multi-party collaborations. Big challenges are addressed by global groups
of diverse stakeholders built around new, non-financial incentives.

23. The Third Space for Data
By 2025, a new place for data emerges - between public and private. This is
driven by "data philanthropy" and the donation of data for social purposes such
as healthcare and improving our ability to respond to disasters.

24. Post Modern Workplaces
We are on the cusp of a transition to a world where, half of the populations of Europe
and the United States subscribe to post-modern values of autonomy and diversity. The
workplace will not escape this trend.

25. The Climate Change Challenge
Climate change can no longer be ignored. While many are now looking at
improving the resilience of their facilities to more extreme weather, how
many will also seek to adapt to the new world of 4C of global warming?

26. Starting the Conversation
Water is inter-twined with everything we do; energy, food, health and
wellbeing, manufacturing are all dependent on its availability. At the very
least we need to start a public conversation about its real role in our lives.

27. Redefining Citizen and State
Community engagement will come to define the relationship between citizens
and the state. Boundaries will become blurred and power will become more
and more decentralised.

28. Planetary Nexuses
More eco-friendly opportunities, and trade-offs, on energy supply and
use emerge from considering the nexuses of core resources such as
food, water, energy and land with a growing population.
Water
Food
Land
Energy

29. Age Diversified Workforces
The demographic changes underway are fundamentally altering
virtually all aspects of life as we know it. Workforces are becoming
older and more age diversified than ever in history.

30. Flexi-water
Continuing uncertainty around water supply will require smart, flexible water
management systems to cope with drought and flood, the effects of climate
change and the demands of new industries and shifting populations.

31. Third Sector Consensus
Society’s continuing dependence on the third sector to take on roles
traditionally provided by the state calls for the sector to better define and co-
ordinate its collective approach, impact and needs.

32. Plastic Oceans
Today 60% of the plastic waste in the ocean comes from just 5 countries –
China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. By 2050 there will be
more plastic than fish in the world’s oceans.

33. Skilling Rather Than Teaching
As most information is available on the net, the need to prepare us for the
increasingly unstructured nature of work drives schools to become places for
developing core skills – emotional intelligence / leadership / critical thinking.

34. Contract Compromises
Government funding of the social sector has decreased and has shifted from grants
to contracts, bringing potential risk for charities in terms of compromising their
purpose, whom they partner with and how services are delivered.

35. Future Agenda
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