The Environment - scanning for uncertainty
The Environment Research Funders' Forum has produced an analysis of issues affecting the environment which might impact on the UK's interests over the next 20 years.
Environmental problems are never out of the headlines now, but these are the ones that we know about. The forum has tackled the difficult task of trying to identify environmental themes that are hedged about with uncertainties. Might these develop into full-blown problems that could affect the UK socially, financially or perhaps impact on our health?
The project
In the horizon-scanning project, forum members and external experts identified broad themes of strategic importance to the UK. These themes were narrowed down to dimensions of uncertainty - themes that are developing in an uncertain way, perhaps approaching a tipping point, or about which we know too little. Examples of dimensions are cities and the environment, food production and sustainability of water supply.
The outcomes
The final, prioritized list identifies 11 dimensions of uncertainty. The report describes these in detail, how they might develop and their relevance to policy. It also explores the potential impacts of these dimensions that we need to understand better and the research questions we need to ask. The reports ends with recommendations about how the forum should take this work forward; for instance, through reviewing research, monitoring trends and sharing outcomes and ideas with partner organizations.
The report
The report in five volumes covers the process and outputs from the study.
- Volume 1 : an overview of the project and executive summary
- Volume 2 : the dimensions of uncertainty in detail
- Volume 3 : a synthesis of the strategic issues raised during the interviews in phase 1
- Volume 4 : key issues raised during the workshops carried out in phase 1
- Volume 5 : the voting process and outcomes during phase 2.