Living on the Edge: How we converted challenges into profitable opportunities

摘要: Abstract In 2063, the Great Lakes–St. Lawrence River basin is Living on Edge of system resilience, characterized by poor governance yet good environmental/economic balance. The Lakes region benefits from and depends upon human choices natural forces outside pushing pulling it toward that Choices within are insufficient to maintain there minimal government involvement in governance. perseveres like a pampered but powerless slave, contributing value lacking liberty. predominant drivers change have brought this perpetual knife's-edge existence dependency global economy, societal values, technological innovation. Climate change, energy, demographics turn drive those scale, itself has evaded most extreme climate-change impacts, which proved highly variable through space time. Global changes energy demand resulted massive investment green technology planetary history, dramatically shifting for wind, solar, wave, nuclear power. Coupled with aggressive pro-business North American policies endemic private-sector intellectual capital, reemerged as an economic engine serve demand. This shift occurred despite death cooperative federalism after decades ideological politics gutted science-based, citizen-participatory regulatory structures. Governance at local scales remains variable, so rides coattails past policies. scenario represents one four described Futures Project.