Tellus Institute - For a Great Transition

The quest for sustainable development requires a perspective that is systemic, long-range, and multi-scale —global, regional, national, and local. Tellus has conducted hundreds of projects throughout the world on alternative strategies for environmental stewardship, sustainable resource use, and equitable development. The Institute builds on its pioneering work in fashioning the scenario approach, working with stakeholders to develop alternative long-range visions and pathways.

Relying on an integrated assessment framework and backed by quantitative analyses, the scenarios help to address three fundamental questions—Where are we going? Where do we want to go? How do we get there? The aim of these exercises is to identify and motivate actions today that will foster transitions in technology, institutions, and human values required for a sustainable future.

The program’s three major foci are:

  • Integrated Scenarios – depicting alternative futures at global, regional, and national levels; identifying transitional strategies; and catalyzing stakeholder engagement in such strategies
  • Energy, Environment and Climate – analyzing energy systems and environmental impacts, evaluating policies for a transition to efficient and renewable energy technology, and formulating strategies for mitigating and adapting to climate change
  • Water and Development – evaluating long-term solutions that balance the competing freshwater needs for basic services, development and the environment; and developing methods and stakeholder processes to support comprehensive river basin assessment

 

Tellus disseminates its decision-support tools world wide and provides training to strengthen professional capacity for integrated assessments for sustainable development. Its suite of widely used software includes PoleStar for integrated scenarios, LEAP for energy, and WEAP for water.

*NEW*Resilience and Pluralism: Ecosystems and Society in a Great Transition*NEW*
This paper examines how humanity has endangered the resilience of socio-ecological systems and envisions ways in which human needs may be better aligned with ecological needs. It is published as part of the GTI Paper Series, Frontiers of a Great Transition.

Program leader: Dr. Paul D. Raskin
Contact: praskin@tellus.org