A new report by the National Research Council titled, “Understanding the Changing Planet: Strategic Directions for the Geographical Sciences,” addresses issues of global change to understand where and how landscapes are changing, and how to help society manage and adapt to this change. The report outlines research approaches and strategic directions. At the heart of the report are 11 questions that the geographical sciences should seek to answer in order to get a better handle on the stewardship of our planet.
How to understand and respond to environmental change:
• How are we changing the physical environment of Earth’s surface?
• How can we best preserve biological diversity and protect endangered ecosystems?
• How are climate and other environmental changes affecting the vulnerabilities of coupled human-environment systems?
How to promote sustainability:
• Where and how will 10 billion people live?
• How will we sustainably feed everyone in the coming decade and beyond?
• How does where we live affect our health?
How to recognize and cope with the rapid spatial reorganization of economy and society:
• How is the movement of people, goods, and ideas changing the world?
• How is economic globalization affecting inequality?
• How are geopolitical shifts influencing peace and stability?
How to leverage technological change for the benefit of society and environment:
• How might we better observe, analyze, and visualize a changing world?
• What are the societal implications of citizen mapping and mapping citizens?
It’s great to see this outline of questions and priorities that largely mirror the coverage and content of V1 Magazine. These issues will only increase as populations increase and global change accelerates.
