The role of values in future scenarios: what types of values underpin (un)sustainable and (un)just futures?

• DOI: 10.1016/j.cosust.2023.101343
• Publication Date: 2023-09-19T16:12:10Z
• Authors: Zuzana V. Harmáčková; Yuki Yoshida; Nadia Sitas; Lelani Mannetti; Adrian Martin; Ritesh Kumar; Marta Berbés-Bláz...; Rebecca Collins; Klaus Eisenack; Ellen Guimaraes; María Heras; Valerie Nelson; Aidin Niamir; Federica Ravera; Isabel Ruiz-Mallén; Patrick O’Farrell
• Keywords: Vision

Values have been recognized as critical leverage points for sustainability transformations. However, there is limited evidence unpacking which types of values are associated with specific sustainable and unsustainable futures, described by future scenarios other futures-related works. This paper builds on a review 460 scenarios, visions, works in the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform Biodiversity Ecosystem Services Assessment, synthesizing from academia, private sector, governmental non-governmental strategies, science-policy reports, arts-based evidence, to identify nature that underlie different archetypes future. The results demonstrate futures related dystopian scenario such Regional Competition, Inequality, Breakdown mostly underpinned deeply individualistic materialistic values. In contrast, more just outcomes, Global Sustainable Development Sustainability, tend be balanced combination plural nature, dominant focus nature's contribution societal (as opposed individual) aspects well-being. Furthermore, identifies research gaps illustrates key importance acknowledging not only people's directly instrumental, intrinsic, relational human-nature relationships, but also broad worldviews affect interactions between society, resulting impacts Nature's Contributions People opportunities good quality life.