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Stories

Join us in exploring the possibilities of the future! Share your future perspectives, discover other people’s visions, and engage in a dialogue on what Europe and the world may look like in the future. We collect, share and distribute your visions in our stories database.

Share your visions of the future!

Your ideas matter – shape the future you want! Share your visions of tomorrow and join us in creating a narrative that inspires citizens, policymakers, and foresight experts. Together, we can co-create the future.

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Seeds of change - by Lin Lune
Seeds of change - by Lin Lune

Anonymous

2021, ETH Zürich Seed Bank Cynthia Yu walks through rows and rows of shelving, a cuboid beehive with drawers the size of index cards, and whispers Latin taxonomy. She knows that she does not know how many species go extinct every day, and she knows that her unborn child will be named something special. 2030, ETH Zürich Seed Bank "Hey Cynthia, you should take the day off. Everyone's seen the news."

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Tomato Seed - by Giovanna Guiffrè
Tomato Seed - by Giovanna Guiffrè

Giovanna Guiffrè

It’s the 26th of May 2050. Today is my birthday. My son wanted to celebrate my birthday at a famous restaurant on the moon. He wanted to fly us to the moon in his new airbus. But I refused by saying that I would like to celebrate my birthday at our house. Now the party has ended, and I am sitting on my terrace.

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Proximity - by Nicole Seredenko
Proximity - by Nicole Seredenko

Anonymous

Each morning of the school week started the same way. Father Jim Mitchell and Harriett Baker walked to school together, a twenty-minute walk that was shortened by cutting through the farmer’s market. At a quarter before seven, every Wednesday, the local makers and growers were still setting up their stands for the day ahead.

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Firebreak - by Chris Butler
Firebreak - by Chris Butler

Anonymous

Firebreak, 2025 by Chris Butler “Hey, Jerry, how have you been? It’s great to see you are still open.” I looked up from the glassware I was wiping water spots off. “Dan, I haven’t seen you for a few weeks. How have you been with, you know, all of the limitations?”

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A better place for the world.
A better place for the world.

Anonymous

In the future i see Sustainable practises becoming more commonplace, redefining our interaction with the environment. Renewable energy, eco-friendly transportation, green areas, sustainable agriculture, and trash reduction are all projected in the future. I see the world being better and cleaner. That future would be nice as the roads would be clean and have no trash.

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Utopia (unfortunate) (Utopie (leider))
Utopia (unfortunate) (Utopie (leider))

Anonymous

I want a greener future: —Cities other than heat bells:fewer cars, more space for people, parks, trees, green roofs, etc. —to ensure that we truly meet our climate goals and thus minimise the impact of climate change; —Protecting species that we stop our way of life for animals and plants and no longer contribute to the massive extinction of species —a policy that involves people more and does not give part of society the feeling that they have nothing to say and don’t count —a green, more liveable future for me also includes access to GUTER education for all, that everyone is addressed and you learn things that are useful to one even in times of AI (I believe that one example here is Finland) —build a prudent approach to AI, internet, digitalisation --> benefits, but also take into account the disadvantages and risks (e.g. climate damage, possible job losses, etc.), better communicate and educate people —good health care for all

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Whole-planet survival and prosperity.
Whole-planet survival and prosperity.

Anonymous

I would like by 2040 to see the world move beyond using fossil fuels to fully renewable sources of energy. This is not the only issue that is important to me, but I believe it is essential first to maintain a stable climate for allowing humanity to keep progressing in terms of expanding scientific knowledge, improving social justice, allowing continued prosperity for a greater number of people, and facilitate evolution in understanding and equality between people of different racial origins, sexual orientations and gender identities, as well as expand our understanding of nature and promote care for non-human animals and the planetary ecosystem as a whole.

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Being, not having (Being, not having)
Being, not having (Being, not having)

Anonymous

Human-centered. Focused on collective well-being at all levels, detached from power and all the deriving values, attitudes and mindsets.

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What we have in Commons
What we have in Commons

Anonymous

Ideally that future would focus primarily on community. As we move towards the future, our interests in fostering community are getting smaller and smaller. Even though it might seem trivial, it seems to me that many issues we face today can be handled through building strong community links at local levels and then expanding outwards. Individualistic societies have not provided us with the tools to look at huge global problems -- like climate change, the refugee/migrant crisis, job precarity and many more-- and be able to tackle them. Once we start looking inwardly and then to those closest to us can we then start taking care of each other. Building local, sustainable and adaptable practices will lead to better understanding of global issues and instead of inhibiting our futures, we can nurture ourselves, our culture, our future. It's 2040 and you can rely on both yourself and you community to work together by participating equitably in creating a commons that does not operate under utopic ideals but rather faces challenges realistically, operates on a basis of accountability and supports its community members.

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Transformation Era
Transformation Era

Anonymous

life in 2040 I am hoping for better changes and improvement in our government because our government is slowly ruining our country with corruption in the departments, there must be improvements, especially in health living, public clinics are providing poor service also the health workers behavior is the worst they need to treat patient well with respect and stop undermining the poor because they also need to be treated with care. Social justice must be well-implemented, be improved more especially on crime, the crime rate is very high in South Africa and we no longer feel safe walking around whether in daylight or at night, something should be done about the youth that turn into criminals instead of studying or doing something legit to make a living. car hijacking, money heists, fraud, corruption, and gadget robbery are the most dominating crimes that need a permanent change. I would describe the future as a life of improvement especially in education (fees and safe space that has no discrimination, racism, and equality). In governance, I am looking at a future that has improved facilities and leadership skills. better working environments, and job creation that will minimize crime, there shouldn't be a thing of hiring people because they are friends, relatives, or some sort of connection. everyone should be given a chance to work and use their qualifications without age restriction.

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Home is where the fire is
Home is where the fire is

Anonymous

The combination of individuals together can hardly ever become one, but they can create one. One language, city, music, dance, one Europe. People all have the desire to appear, to join, to create. In 2040, the public: public space, the being together of people, digital space allows these activities, asking people to be vivid, collected. To be the moving matter in the public space of continuity, of something bigger than ourselves. The world shows herself to us in public space, and we ourselves are elements of that world, appearing for the others. In the public realm we recharge our home spheres with the dynamity of others, strangers, the freedom of movement and the space for chance. This public vibrancy, the public heart, or hestia, is the fire around which the community is built. In our private domain we can depart that public world of appearances and comfort ourselves with the warmth, the fire, hestia around which our private lives are built, of our personal controllable surroundings. I imagine a future where the public and private realm are distinct but balanced and in which the public is providing us with a feeling of collectiveness, togetherness, in which we all contribute to sustain that collective. (Hestia, the Greek goddess of the heart and fire, was both the foundation of domestic life, the fireplace, the heart of the house and the public fire, the heart of the city. In earlier times fire was essential to establish a society or community. In my vision Hestia denotes the underlying similarity of the public and the private while maintaining the distinction of the two.)

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Peacre and secure (Peaceful and secure)
Peacre and secure (Peaceful and secure)

Anonymous

I would like to see a future where all people will feel happy and financially secure. There will be no criminality, no wars, no violence.

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Equality, love, freedom (Ισότητα, αγάπη, ελευθερία)
Equality, love, freedom (Ισότητα, αγάπη, ελευθερία)

Anonymous

The most important thing in the world is and will be our education. The world is now growing locked in. You need to go through, study, find a job in the public sector, you need to do a family. Why the wheel has to turn as the few. The world in the future should be free without any bias. Not be tied to work. There must be time for the family and the family must not wait every month. These social inequalities that cause superiority syndromes can no longer exist. Prosperity and immunity can no longer be advertised by all media. In 2040, let us live in a real world where children have a real education and live in a free world that makes it as they want rather than as it is what they want to do, and not as much value for people, rather than money. A world that has long been trying to build but always do the opposite and bring the worst.

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Belonging
Belonging

Anonymous

I imagine that by 2040 everyone will feel free to be themselves without the fear of rejection or fear for their personal safety/security. Everyone will have a sense of belonging in the society and will not be excluded due to their ethnicity, sexual orientation or appearance.

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An integral Europe that revitalises its spiritual roots (Ein integrales Europa, das seine spirituellen Wurzeln wiederbelebt)
An integral Europe that revitalises its spiritual roots (Ein integrales Europa, das seine spirituellen Wurzeln wiederbelebt)

Anonymous

Following a longer dialogue in the sense of a dialogical aesthetic in the Antrhopociene (the working title of my artistic research) with ChatGPT, the following vision emerged: In 2040, Europe has undergone a profound transformation and has become a model of regeneration, spirituality, peace and an integral world vision integrating European and non-European indigenous wisdoms. This vision shows how civil society processes and the public interest economy are involved in this transformation process: 1. Participatory communities: European cities and regions have developed a culture of active participation and participation. Citizens shape local decisions and projects, leading to vibrant and committed communities. 2. Public service enterprises: Europe has experienced a blooming period of companies in the public interest. In addition to profit-making, these companies actively promote social and environmental responsibility and promote fair working conditions. 3. Education for sustainability: The education system in Europe emphasises the importance of sustainability, ethics and social engagement. Schools and universities encourage students to work for environmental protection, peace and the common good. 4. Ecological neighbourhoods: European cities have become ecological neighbourhoods where sustainable construction and renewable energy are promoted. People live in green communities and share resources. 5. Cultural diversity and integration: Europe has experienced a cultural renaissance characterised by the integration of diverse cultural influences. Artists and creators from different backgrounds enrich the cultural landscape. 6. Intergenerational dialogue: Society promotes intergenerational dialogue and respects the knowledge and experience of older people. Communities are characterised by a sense of attachment between the young and the old. 7. Health and prevention: Europe has focused on preventive medicine and holistic healthcare. People pay attention to their physical and mental health and use natural curative methods. 8. Global cooperation: Europe is actively working with countries and regions around the world to address global challenges. Together, they are committed to peace, environmental protection and social justice. 9. Regenerative agriculture: European agriculture has embraced regenerative practices that restore soils and promote biodiversity. Farmers use organic farming methods. 10. Indigenous wisdoms and common good: Europe has integrated indigenous wisdoms from different cultures and uses them as a source of inspiration for community projects, environmental protection and social justice. These wisdoms emphasise the importance of the balance in nature and the common good. Civil society processes and the public interest economy have played a crucial role in shaping and promoting this holistic vision for Europe in 2040. They have shaped a society based on values such as cooperation, sustainability, social justice and respect for nature. Europe lives in line with the spiritual dimensions of life and honours the diversity of indigenous wisdoms that contribute to regeneration, peace and harmony.

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Sustainable future (Sustainable future)
Sustainable future (Sustainable future)

Anonymous

In 2040, Europe thrives as a model of sustainability. Clean energy powers our lives, urban green spaces abound, and circular economy practices eliminate waste. Environmental education is paramount, fostering a society dedicated to preserving Europe's natural beauty while embracing progress

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Sustainable (Sustainable)
Sustainable (Sustainable)

Anonymous

Heath - Environmental, Physical, Mental.

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A more selfless world ( Ένας πιο ανιδιοτελής κόσμος)
A more selfless world ( Ένας πιο ανιδιοτελής κόσμος)

Anonymous

I will envisage a (utopian) future in which social and gender inequalities have been eliminated or even reduced, and environmental protection will be of paramount value. Where access to basic goods (health, food, housing, education) will be provided regardless of social class, gender race and other characteristics. A world where prosperity is promoted and not based on the enforcement of violence. A world where we respect the rights of others, animals and the environment.

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Work-life balance at last
Work-life balance at last

Anonymous

I imagine a future that is more relaxed in terms of work conditions and finding a balance with daily family necessities. Having more time with the family, going on trips, not needing to stress about financials.

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We are all human truth (Somos todos humanos de verdade)
We are all human truth (Somos todos humanos de verdade)

Anonymous

Equity and social justice: universal wage means legislation that makes it part of a wealth of wealth directed towards hunger eradication programmes and healthy living environments for populations in need of infrastructure. Economies with free competition and lower capital concentration.

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A future of kindness
A future of kindness

Anonymous

I would like to see a future where kindness and social justice are a priority to people. In the future I envision, social responsibility is deeply embedded in citizens' minds and everyday lives. The gap in income, education opportunities, skills, income, and access to healthcare between different groups of people is reduced and self-interest and collective interest are synonymous.

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Getting everywhere in no time!
Getting everywhere in no time!

Anonymous

I hope that in 2040 there will be no traffic jams! Transportation means (of all types) would be friendly to the environment, fast and efficient. I will be able to have more free time instead of driving around and being stuck in traffic jams!

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equity
equity

Anonymous

Equality and equity in workplace, healthcare and education.

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The decade which Cancer is a simpe, treatable disease
The decade which Cancer is a simpe, treatable disease

Anonymous

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. Many cancers can be cured but most of them are non curable. By 2040, AI technology with the supervision of humans will be able to detect and treat with 100% sucess, the cancer patient

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