Insights from experience and avenues for change: a conceptual framework for learning and applying futures thinking in the water sector

Transforming Australia’s water governance to better encompass climate adaptation requires a collective reimagining of new possibilities for what our futures look like under a changing climate. Yet intentional construction of, strategic reflection on, and interrogation of imagined futures is rare. Through analysis of contemporary literature and interviews with experienced futures and foresight practitioners, we identify key themes for effectively building and applying futures thinking to water governance. These include methods for facilitating futures thinking, relevance of and steps for application to water decisions, and the role of critical reflexivity and creative methodologies. Drawing on these themes, this paper proposes a theoretical framework for the iterative learning and application of futures thinking in water governance, and, further, how that learning and application can be expanded through reflexivity towards transformation. Reflecting on the framework developed in this paper, we argue that attending to critical and creative approaches to futures thinking can support transformative futures for the water sector.