DISPATCHES FROM ALTERNATE FUTURES: EXPLORATORY SCENARIOS FOR GREATER PHILADELPHIA

DISPATCHES FROM ALTERNATE FUTURES: EXPLORATORY SCENARIOS FOR GREATER PHILADELPHIA

Product No.: 20012
Date Published: 07/2020

Launch ProductThis exploratory scenario planning exercise was conducted with the Futures Working Group (FWG), and is a key step in developing the Connections 2050 Long-Range Plan for Greater Philadelphia. This effort assesses uncertainty within a changing environment, and aims to understand what conditions or events may emerge, along with their likely consequences. It identifies an expansive range of future scenarios that the Greater Philadelphia region could conceivably face through the year 2050: DELAYED EXPECTATIONS: A world overcome by climate change and economic slowdown; PEOPLE POWER: Grassroots movement to a more just and sustainable future; TECHNOLOGY IN THE DRIVER’S SEAT: Big Tech takes control; and INCLUSIVE TECH: A new equitable economy emerges through open source technologies. The scenarios illustrate how the region may change over the next 30 years through a series of news articles from the future, which are based on modeling, research, and dialogue with the FWG. A final step will be conducted as part of the Connections 2050 Long-Range Plan update to determine potential actions to respond to or benefit from uncertainties so the region can plan and prepare for whichever environment comes to fruition.

Geographic Area Covered: Nine-county DVRPC region consisting of Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, and Mercer counties in New Jersey; and Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties in Pennsylvania.

Key Words: Dispatches, Scenarios, Scenario Planning, Uncertainty, Impact, Trends, Forces, Futures Group, Futures Working Group, Delayed Expectations, People Power, Technology In The Driver’s Seat, Inclusive Tech, Signposts, Connections 2050, Climate Change, Digital Revolution, Inequality, Open Source, Grassroots, Big Tech, Demographics, Transportation Technology, Environment, Economy, Work, Housing, Development, Land Use, Transportation Infrastructure, Transportation Funding.

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