What would planning for climate change look like if our goal was to consider the wellbeing of people living 200+ years from now?

This was the topic of discussion at a workshop held in Boston in May 2024. More than a dozen thought leaders from government entities, non-profit organizations, indigenous communities, and academia came together to explore how planning for different timescales impacts the decision-making process.

Focusing on the topics of human health and safety, access to nature, and ecosystem services, people used a tool to help them map (1) how existing systems might play out in the near and long term, (2) what the ideal long-term future might look like, and (3) how society might move from the status quo to the desired future.

Discussions highlighted how long-term planning may allow for more inclusion of values—such as equity, security, and rights of nature—in decision-making processes.  

The workshop was organized by the Urban Harbors Institute and the Stone Living Lab Partnership.