Survey on next generation future scenarios

The Scenario Evolution Process (SEP) is a global, research community-led initiative to evaluate and update the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs). Although the outcome of this process is not predetermined, today’s interconnected challenges demand a toolkit that reflects holistic responses to complex challenges. Whether the SSPs require a minor update or a fundamental redesign will be decided by the research and policy community.

The multi-year process (2026–2030) includes information gathering, workshops, academic publications, and other approaches to reach consensus on the elements of the next generation of scenarios that would better support resilient, equitable, and sustainable development. The first and most critical step in this process is understanding your perspective. The current stage of SEP is focused on gathering the baseline data that will shape its strategic direction for 2026.

This survey is a key early data gathering instrument for the Scenario Evolution Process (SEP). The goal is to gather broad, interdisciplinary feedback to determine the future direction of these scenarios.

The survey asks stakeholders:

• How they used the SSPs in the past.
• What limitations or "missing pieces" they identified (e.g., equity, nature, solution-orientation).
• What critical needs exist for the future of global scenario frameworks.

Your Input Matters: The results will directly inform a high-level workshop later in 2026 to discuss potential paths forward that may include the development of updated or entirely new scenarios.

If you are willing to share your thoughts on the SSPs and the future of socioeconomic scenarios, please fill in the survey.