top of page

By 2040, the air and water are clean, food is healthy, and weapons are banned.

Anonymous

April 26, 2023

By 2040, the air and water are clean, food is healthy, and weapons are banned.

This image was generated with Dream Studio AI.

In 2040, the air and water will be clean, no one will have to go hungry, no weapons will be manufactured, and all wars will be over. All people - from politicians, business representatives, researchers, and bankers to employees, children, and pensioners - are involved in a circular bioeconomy which prevents emissions that pollute the environment, harm health and cause climate deterioration.

Renewable Organic Materials derived from plants, animals, microorganisms, and their excrement are only handled in the following local systems connected to "smart grids":
• "Non-Sewage systems" with hygienic and easy-to-handle devices for collecting both food and toilet waste - that prevent emissions which are polluting air and water, and facilitating the return of plant nutrients and organic carbon compounds to cultivated land - contributes to a) carbon storage, b) increased biodiversity of soil organisms, c) increased soil water holding capacity - as well as several other factors that are positive for soil fertility, while gray water is purified locally with biological methods.
• Sustainable biological transformation methods for Renewable Organic Materials in residues and waste are used in order to utilize bioenergy and all the essential chemical elements in ecologically, economically, and socially sustainable ways.

Unsustainable thermal methods such as combustion, thermal gasification and pyrolysis of Renewable Organic Materials as well as unsustainable chemical methods are banned.

Instead of manufacturing equipment for military purposes, all resources are used for continuous improvement of equipment that reduces the over-utilization of natural resources and thus benefits the CIRCULAR BIOECONOMY.

Gray water from settlements, treated with biological methods, is reused for irrigation in urban farms and parks and farms around cities as well as for fountains and for water-games.
------------------

Background

In 2021, political decision-makers and company representatives have begun to seriously realize the transition to a knowledge-based sustainable society. It started with media pressure when journalists launched campaigns in collaboration with conscious and committed citizens.

Information was disseminated about an SBRS concept, which in short is about
• saving water
• saving the arable land
• increasing energy efficiency
• reducing costs when the environment, health and climate are positively affected.

The "SBRS concept” stands for "Sustainable Biological Recycling System" and consists of using the following innovative types of equipment to be able to use sustainable methods:
• hygienic and easy-to-use devices for collecting food and toilet waste without diluting with water
• digitized logistics for everything related to Renewable Organic Materials, that was previously handled unsustainably in waste and sewage systems
• local high-tech biogas plants to produce biogas and biofertilizers
• local biological water treatment of gray water from households
• trigeneration for the conversion of energy in biogas to electricity, heating/cooling, etc.
• upgrading of "digestate" to biofertilizers.

The basis of all life is photosynthesis. In plants, the sun's radiant energy is converted into BIOENERGY with the help of at least 16 chemical elements (S. Pettersson, 1984). Carbon (C), oxygen (O) and hydrogen (H), which make up about 96% of the plants' dry matter, come from carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O). The other 4% that must be present for photosynthesis to work are nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), sulfur (S), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), boron (B), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), chlorine (Cl), zinc (Zn) and molybdenum (Mo). In later literature, a few more elements are mentioned.

When facts about basic conditions for cultivation systems became widely known, it increased our understanding of food production without consuming or destroying the fertility of the soil, i.e., its production capacity. It was noted that soil degradation continued for decades, before 2020 became characterized by insufficient recycling of the essential chemical elements and organically bound carbon back to cultivated soils.

Particular attention was paid to information from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, which in May 2019 published that less than 2% of the plant nutrients are reused. It was an alarm clock that showed that 98% of plant nutrients becomes pollutants in our air and water, due to unsustainable handling of Renewable Organic Materials.

All air pollutants move around the earth, fall with the rain, and pollute water, soil, vegetation and create costs through health problems, destroyed buildings, etc. Growers were forced to buy imported mineral fertilizers, pesticides, and fossil fuels, which after the transition, that lasted until 2030, were produced in each country, and usually locally, to minimize long transports.

Both direct costs via tariffs for water and waste and indirect for environmental problems caused by using unsustainable methods and synthetic chemicals, as well as uncertain food quality and increased health problems in unhealthy working environments, were borne by the citizens, which created major protests in many countries. These resulted in the media disseminating information about ecologically, economically, and socially sustainable alternatives.

After COP26 in 2021, both politicians and business decision-makers, including legislators and banks, had to take the idea of a transition to a knowledge-based sustainable society seriously. Everyone under COP26 agreed that the most important thing is health and that it can only be achieved with measures where technological innovations, only in the absence of military purposes, prevent most emissions that pollute the environment and thus threaten health and the climate.

The main goal was to prevent costly losses of bioenergy and the essential elements of life.

In 2022, the entire arms industry began to be restructured to manufacture equipment used for conversion, instead of weapons, for the benefit of the environment and humanity.
-------------------------

In 2040, my oldest grandson will be 40 years old.

related stories

hallo
L'immigrazione è stata controllata
I live in a Europe where only legal immigrants who have been allowed to remain and are perfectly integrated are welcomed, not illegal immigrants who enter illegally without documents and do not want to integrate. I live in a Europe where we must no longer be afraid of terrorist attacks, attacks or bloodshed perpetrated by extremist and Islamised irregular immigrants who endanger the survival of the very values and ideals of a united Europe.
hallo
I wish for a world in harmony. People have learned again to focus on the important and right things. The common good has come to the fore and serious grievances, wars and poverty are a thing of the past. The world is our common good and that is how everyone treats it. We not only pay more attention to our fellow human beings, but also to our environment and do our best together - for the future of our children. They can enjoy nature to the full and discover the wonders of the world. Because healthy people can only live in a healthy world.
hallo
Ideaalmaailm
There is unity, standards are in place. All the electrical sockets are the same in every country, and in every country you drive on the same side of the road. Prices and national economies are stable and the same, so everyone gets paid the same and shops have the same prices. Life has been made very simple. There are no bureaucratic obstacles. You are free to live in any country you want without restrictions.
hallo
Europa 2050: Sopravvivere un Altro Giorno
I wake up with the usual burning in my throat. The air here in Milan is unbreathable, full of fine dust. The window is closed, but the smell of burnt plastic still manages to filter through. It has not rained as it used to for years, and when it does, the water is acidic. I take the filter mask and go down to the street. There are no more electric buses or public bicycles: After the 2038 energy crisis, public transport collapsed and only those who can afford the black market for fuel still drive. Through the city between abandoned buildings and advertising screens that broadcast propaganda. Since the European Union crumbled, trade wars between the new micro-nations have continued. I arrive at the office, a semi-empty skyscraper. Much of the work is now automated, and those who remain cling desperately to a measly salary. We all know that the future will not improve, but no one has the strength to fight anymore.
Join #OurFutures now!

The future is shaped by our ideas and our actions today. Tell us about your visions of the future and help us create a futures narrative aimed at inspiring citizens, policy-makers and foresight experts alike!

Our-futures-banner-coloured_v3.jpg

The European Commission support does not constitute endorsement of the contents which reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained.

ERA_logo.jpg

We support the European Research Area aimed at creating a single, borderless market for research, innovation and technology in the EU.

©OurFutures 2025, All rights reserved.

  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
bottom of page