Professor Lord Martin Rees (Cosmologist and astrophysicist, Cambridge University describes three major projects he would advise the next President of an EU Institution to carry out if he were appointed chief scientific advisor. First, as moving towards clean energy is crucial, a smart high-voltage DC grid could be set up to distribute solar energy all over Europe. Second, in the future robots carrying out jobs now performed by people could be taxed: this money could then be invested in setting up publicly funded jobs that are necessary and completely dignified, where people are not easily replaced, like in the care for the elderly and in schools. Third, Europe should invest in Africa’s development in order to make sure it is not left behind and its population trapped in poverty, which could lead to a very unstable world.

Global trends in 2030: 3 MEGA projects for Europe

SOUNDBITE (English), Professor Lord Martin Rees, Cosmologist and astrophysicist, Cambridge University, -