Introducing Scena: A New Era for our Climate Action Models
A bold new name for our transformative suite of climate action models
17th February 2025
The Scena suite empowers decision-makers to assess diverse future scenarios to identify the most effective way to reduce greenhouse gases, transform their energy systems, and prepare for extreme weather.
We’re excited to introduce Scena, the new name for our transformational suite of climate action models that have been at the heart of SSG’s climate action planning across the Americas. Formerly known as the CityInSight family of models, or just “the model,” Scena reflects a broader vision and expanded capabilities, better aligning with the diverse needs of the communities, regions, and organizations we serve.
This rebrand marks an evolution. While the models themselves remain as robust as ever, the name Scena—inspired by “scenarios”—highlights their core purpose: helping communities explore and plan for a range of potential futures.
The new name for the suite of models is just the beginning of an exciting journey. Our widely used dashboard, a key output of the models, will also be rebranded soon—so stay tuned!
What Does the Scena Suite Do?
The Scena suite empowers decision-makers to explore scenarios, from the impacts of business-as-usual greenhouse gas emissions to the transformative potential of bold climate action. The models are built to do more than support climate mitigation—they enable organizations to assess diverse pathways to addressing the climate crisis holistically.
The Scena Suite:
ScenaCommunity (formerly CityInSight Community): Supports municipalities in crafting community-wide climate action plans.
ScenaCorporate (formerly CityInSight Corporate): Guides governments, organizations, and institutions in decarbonizing their operations and supply chains.
ScenaAdaptation (formerly CityInSight Adaptation): Evaluates strategies to reduce risks from extreme weather and other climate hazards.
ScenaEnergy (formerly Energy Systems Simulator): Guides government and utilities in planning their energy transition.
ScenaLocale: Supports the planning of efficient, compact, complete neighbourhoods.
ScenaHourly (formerly CityInSight Hourly): Provides utilities and government agencies with detailed hourly energy projections for planning.
The Scena Story
The journey began at the 2015 UN Climate Conference in Paris, where the first iteration of the tool, CityInSight (now ScenaCommunity), was unveiled. It solved a persistent challenge in climate planning: the need for hard data to measure the impact of policies on greenhouse gas emissions.
Early adopters like the City of Toronto used the model to develop TransformTO, a groundbreaking climate action plan unanimously passed by City Council. This plan led to substantial investments in electric buses, district energy, and retrofit programs, as well as the creation of 36 new positions to implement it.
Since then, the model’s applications have grown far beyond cities, helping rural municipalities in Chile, U.S. states, and organizations like the Canadian government and universities to make informed decisions on climate action.
Why the Name Scena?
In 2022, SSG partnered with the globally renowned design studio Pentagram to reimagine the identity of these models. Through a collaborative and inclusive process, we arrived at Scena—a name that captures the dynamic, scenario-based nature of our work.
Pronounced “Seh-na,” the name evokes a sequence of impactful actions and events, reflecting our mission: to empower leaders to create decarbonized, equitable, and resilient futures.
What’s Next?
This is the first step in the Scena journey. The visual identity of our dashboard—the key interface for Scena’s outputs—will be unveiled in the next phase. We can’t wait to share more!
Learn more
If you’d like to learn more about the Scena suite of tools, please check out our Tools page or feel free to reach out!
About the Authors
Naomi (she/her) leads design and engagement in climate action planning at SSG. Passionate about shaping bold, transformative strategies, Naomi works closely with communities and governments to implement policies that drive systemic change towards a climate-friendly future. With over 20 years of experience in sustainability and climate policy, Naomi has advised universities, local governments, and civil society organizations.
Alia (she/her) leads marketing and communications at SSG and consults on climate action projects for different levels of government across North America. She brings her zest for storytelling and problem solving to diverse projects, ranging from developing resources on climate action for policymakers to engaging communities on the development of climate actions.