Consumption is becoming a key issue in the debate on creating a sustainable future. In particular, the world-wide spread of extremelyresource-intensive lifestyles and economic practices has become one of the most important challenges we face.
Futures studies is ideally placed to help face this challenge as it includes tools for describing possible, probable, and desirable variations of the present that are both social and “natural”. Furthermore, by examining a variety of possibilities we can come closer to choosing and shaping the future, rather than merely predicting it. Thus, futures studies offers valuable tools for understanding and guiding consumer society.
The conference brought together the best futures studies experts in the scientific community to interact with corporate representatives and policymakers. Together they developed images of alternative futures. The goal of the conference was to assist decision-makers by providing them with the tools to gain a better understanding of the potential consequences of present and future decisions.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE CONFERENCE
Koskela, Marileena & Vinnari, Markus (eds.) (2009) Future of the Consumer Society. Proceedings of the Conference “Future of the Consumer Society”, 28–29 May 2009, Tampere, Finland. FFRC eBooks 7/2009. Finland Futures Research Centre, Turku School of Ecnomics, 293 p. ISBN 978-951-564-968-3. ISSN 1797-132 [pdf, 3.4 mb]
Special Issue on Progress in Industrial Ecology, An International Journal (PIE) Special issue on Consumer Society and Future of Sustainability. Guest Editors: Markus Vinnari and Marileena Koskela. Volume 6, Issue 4, 2009.
Other materials
- Conference programme (pdf)
- Book of Abstracts (pdf, 500 kb)
- List of Speakers on the Conference Sessions (pdf)