Beyond the Horizon: Using Foresight to Protect the Environmental Future

摘要

The report was prepared by the Environmental Futures Committee of the EPA ScienceAdvisory Board in response to a request by the Administrator for advice on the value of anticipating environmental problems, tools to anticipate them, and examples of possible emerging problems. The committee focused upon four 'drivers' of change: population growth and urbanization, economic expansions and resource consumption, technological development, and environmental attitudes and institutions. It emphasizes the value of anticipating, understanding, and, if necessary, responding to, environmental problems before they emerge, rather than playing catch-up.