It pursues this objective through research, publication and collaboration with national and regional efforts to establish sustainable development strategies. The GSG is an independent and interdisciplinary body, representing a variety of geographic and professional experiences. The diversity and continuity of the GSG offer a unique resource for the research and policy communities, as well as the general public. The essence of sustainability is the reconciliation of development and environmental goals over the long-term. It is concerned with the future.
Scenario analysis is a means to shed light on the possibilities for the future.
A scenario is a story, told in words and numbers, concerning the manner in which future events might unfold. However, a well-designed scenario is not just any story. It must be constructed with detail, rigor, and imagination, and it must be evaluated critically for plausibility, self-consistency, and sustainability. Scenarios help us to understand where we might be headed, but more, they offer guidance on how to act now to direct the flow of events towards desirable futures and away from undesirable ones. At each level, different sets of issues and opportunities come into focus.