Imagined Future Scenarios
Climate Science, Plausible Futures, Long Term (5 - 10 years)
Scenario Generated from 'Could Humans Hibernate?' - Aeon.co
Future Arc and Implications
Grow Arc
Social Impact: Increased population and intergenerational inequality exacerbate resource competition and social stratification.
Technological Impact: Rapid advancement in hibernation technology fuels further biotechnological expansion and resource extraction.
Ecological Impact: Unsustainable resource consumption accelerates climate change and biodiversity loss despite technological advancements.
Economic Impact: Economic growth continues, but driven by widening wealth disparities and precarious ecological stability.
Political Impact: Global governance struggles to manage resource allocation and address growing social unrest fueled by inequality.
Narrative: Human hibernation enables continued economic growth and population expansion, exacerbating existing environmental and social inequalities.
Collapse Arc
Social Impact: Social breakdown occurs – mass migrations and conflicts intensify over scarce resources.
Technological Impact: Advancements in hibernation technology become irrelevant as critical systems fail; infrastructure crumbles.
Ecological Impact: Severe climate impacts trigger widespread ecosystem collapse and resource scarcity, making hibernation largely unsustainable.
Economic Impact: Global economic collapse driven by ecological breakdown and resource scarcity.
Political Impact: Governance structures collapse alongside economic and societal stability, leading to widespread chaos and conflict.
Narrative: Environmental collapse and resource depletion render hibernation technology obsolete in a world grappling with societal and systemic failure.
Discipline Arc
Social Impact: Strict social control measures enacted to regulate resource consumption and hibernation access based on predefined criteria.
Technological Impact: Hibernation technology is tightly controlled and used as a tool for population management and resource optimization.
Ecological Impact: Resource management improves, albeit through stringent resource rationing and controlled population growth impacting ecological recovery.
Economic Impact: A centrally-planned or highly regulated economy prioritizes sustainability and equitable distribution of resources.
Political Impact: Authoritarian or tightly-managed governance systems arise, prioritizing stability and resource conservation over individual freedom.
Narrative: A global governance system uses hibernation technology to control population and resource use, creating a highly managed, possibly dystopian society.
Transform Arc
Social Impact: Shifting societal values prioritize ecological harmony and mindful resource use, redefining concepts of lifespan and societal structures.
Technological Impact: Hibernation technology is integrated ethically and sustainably; focus shifts to alternative sustainable solutions.
Ecological Impact: Ecological restoration and preservation becomes a central societal priority, leveraging technology for beneficial outcomes.
Economic Impact: Move towards a circular economy complemented by hibernation technology for resource-intensive projects; focus on human wellbeing above economic output.
Political Impact: Decentralized or collaborative governance models emerge; empowering local communities and prioritizing ecological stewardship.
Narrative: Hibernation technology triggers a profound shift in human values and societal organization leading to a more sustainable and equitable future.
