FUTURE is an integrative Scientific Program undertaken by the member nations and affiliates of PICES to understand how marine ecosystems in the North Pacific respond to climate change and human activities, to forecast ecosystem status based on a contemporary understanding of how nature functions, and to communicate new insights to its members, governments, stakeholders and the public.

FUTURE evolved from research conducted by its predecessor, the PICES/GLOBEC Climate Change and Carrying Capacity (CCCC) Program, which had the goal of increasing understanding of climate influences on marine ecosystems. FUTURE continues a focus on understanding climate impacts on marine systems and places additional emphasis on coastal anthropogenic influences, ecosystem forecasting, and engaging a broad user community with interests in North Pacific ecological and climate information.

FUTURE will be one of the highest priority activities of the Organization for the next decade.

The FUTURE Science Plan developed by the Science Plan Writing Team (SP-WT) under the Study Group on Future Integrative Scientific Program(s) (SG-FISP) was approved in principle at the 2007 PICES Annual Meeting (October 2007, Victoria, Canada) and finalized in February 2008.

The FUTURE Implementation Plan developed by the Implementation Plan Writing Team (IP-WT) under the Study Group on Future Integrative Scientific Program(s) (SG-FISP) was approved in principle at the 2009 inter-sessional meeting (April 2009, Qingdao, PR China) and finalized in June 2009.