It's an ordinary morning in 2040. The sun is shining through the window of my apartment and the city is slowly coming to life behind it. Outside, there is a quiet electric tram that connects neighborhoods without the need for cars. Transport has changed significantly over the last 20 years – combustion engines are a thing of the past, streets are quieter and cleaner.

I read a little news at breakfast. Most people today work from home for at least part of the week, which has helped reduce stress and congestion. But I am looking forward to the office – work is different than before, more collaborative and less routine.

On the way, I stop at a small bakery where the clerk serves me fresh bread wrapped in reusable packaging. Waste is no longer carried here – most shops have switched to a circular economy where materials are put back into circulation.

In the evening I walk through the park, which used to be a parking lot. Cities have adapted to climate change, more trees have been planted, and every piece of free space serves people. Life in 2050 is not perfect, but in many ways it is better – slower, more sustainable and focused on quality instead of quantity.