Project Overview

LATEST NEWS: Horizons - a digital version of the Sustainable Economy Framework was launched in March 2013. Click here to explore. 

Watch the recording of our webinar on April 18th with Nicky Conway and Mike Pitts on the left hand side of the page. You will find out how and why Horizons was developed, how the Technology Strategy Board are using it and how you and your organisation can use Horizons to idetnify risks and oppurtunities. 

“Our food reserves are at a 50-year low, but by 2030 we need to be producing 50% more food. At the same time, we will need 50% more energy, and 30% more fresh water… You can't think about dealing with one without considering the others. We must deal with all of these together."
- John Beddington, UK Government’s Chief Scientist

There is growing recognition that our global economy is unsustainable. John Beddington talks of a ‘perfect storm’ of food, energy and water shortages converging in 2030. Underlying this are deep long-term trends such as population growth, climate change, persistent poverty and poor health. Governments and business are beginning to take action. Yet we struggle to understand what is meant by sustainable economy. And how do you turn sustainability risks into opportunities? Both the Technology Strategy Board and Aviva Investors have been engaging with these issues proactively. We’ve been working with these two organisations to develop a Sustainable Economy Framework (SEF) that defines what we mean by environmental limits and social value.

What is the ‘Sustainable Economy Framework’ (SEF)?

The SEF sets out the parameters for a sustainable future economy that can help today’s investments and business decisions deliver sustainable value over the long term. The SEF defines the characteristics of a sustainable economy: one that operates within safe environmental limits and enriches people’s lives. It has been developed by Forum for the Future in partnership with Aviva Investors and the Technology Strategy Board and is based on analysis of over 40 sources and frameworks examining the topic of sustainable economy, as well as extensive stakeholder consultation.

The outermost ring of the SEF describes the safe environmental limits an economy must operate within; the second ring represents the social and political foundations that enable our societies to flourish; and the innermost ring shows the essential needs for humans to survive and thrive. These all work towards delivering the desired outcomes (the ‘bullseye’ of the SEF) – universal and continuous access for current and future generation to the resources and opportunities necessary to live well.

We have developed similar but different versions of the SEF to align to the strategic priorities of Aviva Investors and Technology Strategy Board. You can read more on how Aviva Investors and Forum for the Future see the role of capital markets in facilitating a sustainable economy on the left-hand side of this page. 

We tested the SEF within the Technology Strategy Board and have since created a digital version - Horizons - to share the thinking more widely. The tool is free and you can use it here: http://horizons.innovateuk.org.

Contact us with comments on the framework or to discuss how you can use within your own organisation by emailing SEF@forumforthefuture.org.