Water Foresight Podcast
Water Foresight Podcast
Developing Countries & Water: Better Product Design and Fostering Sustainable Reuse
What happens when we recognize that resources aren't infinite? Dr. Stephen Gale joins us to offer his thoughts on how the circular economy represents a fundamental shift in economic thinking that could reshape our relationship with water and other vital resources.
From his unexpected journey as a neuropsychologist who found himself working at the Department of Agriculture and USAID, to his current role advising organizations on strategic foresight, Dr. Gale offers a unique perspective on how we must transform our approach to resource management. The circular economy, he explains, goes far beyond recycling—it's about acknowledging resource limitations, designing products for multiple life cycles, and integrating processes that minimize waste at every stage.
Our conversation explores why Scandinavian countries lead in circular economy implementation while surprising success stories like Bangladesh demonstrate how even developing nations can adopt circular principles in profitable industries. Dr. Gale dissects the barriers middle-income countries face: weak regulations, limited financing for innovation, poor internet connectivity, and economies dependent on resource extraction. Yet his most powerful insight may be that leadership, more than economic status, determines success in transitioning to circular models.
Looking ahead, Dr. Gale combines optimism with realism, believing that as countries recognize how dramatically the future differs from the past, they'll increasingly embrace sustainable approaches to resource management. Through strategic foresight and scenario planning, organizations and governments can anticipate future conditions and design systems that remain viable across multiple possible futures. His work in Egypt illustrates this perfectly—when USAID saw projections of future water scarcity, they reconsidered agricultural programs that might prove unsustainable.
Connect with Dr. Gale on LinkedIn to learn more about his work with Global Foresight Strategies and join the conversation about creating a more sustainable water future.
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