Emerging environmental issues: A global perspective of SCOPE

An assessment of environmental issues that might emerge in the 21(st) centu ry suggests that the high priority issues will be: Transformations of old issues-continually evolving, and In most cases broad ening, in response to increasing scientific and technological knowledge and to changing socioeconomic, cultural and environmental conditions. For exam ple, the issues of sustainable water use, urbanization and natural disaster s will change in character as a result of climate warming, economic develop ment and evolving cultural norms. This means that environmental policies ou ght to be adaptive, and should be supported by early warning systems, using appropriate indicators. - Policy issues, the long-term environmental consequences of which may alread y be of concern, e.g., the growing water shortages in parts of Africa, and the longterm environmental impacts of direct foreign investment and of chan ging world trade patterns. The implications of many such socioeconomic and cultural trends on the environment are yet to unfold, and need to be given serious attention. Accidents waiting to happen, e.g., chemical time bombs. - Surprises, in the responses of ecosystems to new and different stresses, as well as in the nature of the socioeconomic drivers of environmental change .