Foresight methodology as a tool for elaboration of plans for sustainable management of water, energy, the environment and society

Abstract

Integrated models of sustainable management bring together the efforts of three groups of actors: government, society and scientists. The effectiveness of such models depends on their ability to support the management of water, ecosystem and societal resources, and the development of such abilities is one of the goals of the InterAcademy Pannel Water Programme. This ability to manage water, ecosystem and social resources is based on full, objective, politically unbiased, and forward-looking information and knowledge. For a long time, environmental modelling has been a source of such information. In recent years foresight has beginning to play a similar role; however, the practical integration of foresight in integrated sustainable management has been very limited. One of the causes of this is the fact that the instrument is not very well known among the people responsible for sustainable management. Therefore, the aim of the article is to close the knowledge gap and to present the basic issues connected to the foresight methodology as a tool for formulating plans for sustainable management of water, energy, environment and society.