In 2050 I am standing on a roof terrace in Amsterdam, where the city skyline has been changed by floating gardens and sustainable skyscrapers that capture energy from the sun and the wind. The canals are now clean and filled with biodiversity, and self-driving boats slide silently past. Traffic on the street has disappeared, replaced by electric vehicles that move quickly and quietly through a network of underground highways. The air is fresh, thanks to decades of global cooperation to drastically reduce CO2 emissions.

Between 2025 and 2050, the transition to renewable energy has accelerated, and the world has learned to work together rather than compete. Climate change is slowly under control, but there is still work to be done. Education is digitised and personalised, with artificial intelligence helping students to follow their own learning path. People no longer work in traditional office gardens; Working from home and flexible working hours have become the norm.

Today I drink coffee from a biodegradable cup, looking at a city that has finally found its balance between technology, nature and people.