A Look into the Future

The ability of the Earth to support human life and its activities, considering factors like natural resources and the environment's capacity to absorb waste.

The Living Planet Report is a biennial (every two years) publication that assesses the state of the Earth's environment, biodiversity, and resource use.

The measure of how diverse and abundant life is on Earth. It reflects the overall health of ecosystems.

The practice of meeting current human needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

The process of climate change becoming increasingly severe and causing significant disruptions to societies and ecosystems.

A method to predict and plan for potential future scenarios by combining known facts with assumptions about key influencing factors. It allows for proactive responses based on different possible outcomes. It is inspired by military intelligence methods, emphasizing the importance of anticipation and adaptability.

The economic growth model of the 20th century focused on increasing production and reducing government intervention. It prioritized material wealth and economic growth in high-income nations, often ignoring environmental implications.

Negative consequences of economic activity that are not reflected in market prices, such as pollution or resource depletion. These costs are borne by society as a whole, not the polluter or resource extractor.

Resources that are shared and freely available to everyone, but can be depleted or degraded if overused. These resources are vulnerable to exploitation if individuals prioritize short-term gains over long-term sustainability.

The concept that natural resources will become scarcer as demand rises, leading to increased prices and fostering innovation and substitution. However, this does not fully account for the irreversible damage caused by resource depletion and pollution.

Shifting policy strategies and actions are essential to avoid undesirable future scenarios and to achieve desired outcomes. These policies often involve rethinking economic growth models and prioritizing sustainable practices.

The idea that the future is inherently uncertain and we cannot fully comprehend its trajectory. However, analyzing current trends and making informed decisions can allow us to prepare for potential future scenarios and navigate them more effectively.

The state of the natural world is assessed through this index, which measures how populations of species have evolved over time.

The pressure humanity exerts on the environment, calculated by comparing the Ecological Footprint (demand) with Biocapacity (supply).

The amount of biologically productive land and water an area requires to produce the resources it consumes and absorb the waste it generates.

The amount of biologically productive land and water available to a region or country to generate resources and absorb waste.

A key driver of biodiversity loss, as humans modify land for agriculture, urban areas, and other purposes.

The combined impact of climate change on biodiversity, as the planet's climate shifts.

The amount of warming we can tolerate without causing catastrophic damage to the environment and ecosystems.

Climate change is becoming a major driver of biodiversity loss, especially if global warming exceeds 1.5%.

The amount of land needed to absorb the carbon dioxide emissions released by a person, company, or country.

The idea that human activity is consuming more resources than the Earth can sustainably provide, leading to resource depletion and environmental degradation.

A measure of social well-being that looks at aspects like income, education, and health, representing the standard of living in a country.

The relationship between a country's economic development and its ecological footprint.

Criticisms of the Ecological Footprint model, arguing that it oversimplifies complex ecological processes and may not accurately reflect resource use, for example, ignoring regional resource distribution and differing levels of technological efficiency.

The process a society uses to make decisions and address conflicts between groups with different interests. It shapes the future and guides collective efforts towards shared goals.

The way society deals with differences in wealth, power, and opportunities among its members. It affects access to resources and influences the well-being of various groups.

The role of communities in shaping governance and ensuring the inclusion of local perspectives. This involves citizens participating in decision-making processes and advocating for their interests.

The collaboration between nations to address global issues like climate change, poverty, and security. It involves cooperation and shared responsibility.

Making sure everyone has a voice and equal opportunities in decision-making processes. It involves removing barriers and promoting fairness for all members of society.

The concept that Earth's resources are finite and we must manage them responsibly to avoid depletion, recognizing the limits of our planet's capacity to support human activities.

Warnings about societal collapse often overestimate the pace of destruction due to assumptions that the price mechanism will effectively correct unsustainable practices and underestimate the potential of technological innovation.

A scenario where continued unsustainable consumption and population growth depletes resources at a faster pace than they can be replenished, leading to economic and social challenges.

Significant changes in how we produce goods and services to improve efficiency and minimize environmental impact while staying within Earth's carrying capacity.

Changes in lifestyle choices, population growth patterns, and consumption habits to reduce our environmental footprint and live within Earth's limits.

The role of governments and institutions in guiding and enforcing policies and regulations that promote sustainable practices and address environmental challenges.

The need to take action to prevent irreversible damage to the environment, as the consequences of inaction will be borne by future generations.