ABSTRACT
Humankind faces enormous challenges. Our growing human population in combination with the damaging impact of our societies on the environment pose a serious threat to our own future existence. Increased energy demand, depletion of natural resources, global warming and climate disruption, or increased antibiotic resistances are some examples of the global-scale problems we need to solve to avoid otherwise devastating consequences for all (Ehrlich and Ehrlich 2013; Walker et al. 2009). Luckily, we are at a much better position than ever before to tackle some of these problems. Research and technology advances allow us to monitor better the existing problems and to come up with alternatives and solutions. However, technological advances alone are not enough, and solving these problems will depend heavily on our ability to cooperate and negotiate at a global scale.
