The Creative Futures for Nature programme was designed to monitor emergent trends, and explore opportunities to experiment and engage. The intention is to reshape futures thinking by integrating marginalised voices, Indigenous knowledge and innovative methodologies.

In 2024, together with a new Insights and Futures Lead, we refined the programme design and launched horizon scanning and scoping activities as a way of identifying emergent trends and early indicators of innovation and systemic transformation. This programme is intended to help us shape our next flagship programme, which will run from 2027 to 2029.

In 2024, we launched the Sci-Fi, AI and Futures for Nature project to challenge conventional approaches in conservation by embracing creativity, speculative thinking and emerging technologies. We tried a new approach to horizon scanning in the conservation sector by using science fiction and AI to imagine a wider range of possible futures. This project explores how AI can analyse sci-fi stories to uncover fresh insights related to human-nature interactions. This is a unique way of thinking about the future in conservation, and the first time the sector has used science fiction to backcast from imagined futures.

The first phase successfully demonstrated a proof-of-concept AI model that analysed 50 sci-fi pieces of literature and uncovered social and technological innovations and "weak signals" of transformative change. Its potential has already attracted interest in the policy field. 

This phase also revealed critical ethical considerations around data sovereignty and cultural inclusivity, and highlighted the need to make AI tools more inclusive, culturally aware and ethically grounded. It highlighted the need for a second phase, which would use several lenses, including aspects of power, colonialism and justice.