In this volatile era where the world changes at such a rapid rate, people are more anxious than ever about what lies ahead. Will relentless consumerism end up destroying our planet, or can science and technology allow us to innovate our way out of trouble? Perhaps a greater social consciousness and community-based living will take over or, conversely, the competition for limited resources may result in everyone fighting for themselves. Drawing on these four possible futures, this book invites us to examine critically the risks and opportunities to come, discussing the key factors, trends, critical uncertainties, and wildcards that will shape the future, guiding us to a greater awareness of long-term problems and possible solutions and empowering us not only to adapt to what might happen, but also to shape our future and generate change. It's impossible to know for certain what the future holds, but we can remove some of its surprises by engaging in a meaningful debate about the choices we face now.