The conditions of human life are undergoing significant changes. Natural disasters, the uneven distribution of resources, and fluctuations in the climate present challenges to the development of nations and people. While everyone’s focus has long been on the issue of environmental degradation, effective solutions have yet to be found. The participants of the ninth session of the 21st Annual Meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club discussed how to find new ideas that take into account the needs of not only advanced, but also emerging economies, and that are free from the preconceptions that have arisen in this field.