What is the difference between GEO and the state of the environment reports?
Traditionally, state of the environment reports focused on biophysical aspects, and saw economic and social issues as important but separate concerns. GEO represents an evolution in environmental assessment from a purely bio-physical focus to one that includes social and economic aspects (i.e. the other pillars of sustainable development), interlinkages among different components of the environment and development and outlook for the future, making it a comprehensive integrated environmental assessment. For example, GEO-4 examines the evolution of environmental policy and environmental institutions over the past 20 years, and includes a new focus on human well-being and vulnerability. The assessment also incorporates a new forward-looking aspect, with an exploration of potential future scenarios, including projections through the medium-term to 2050.
