The world is changing, Putin and Trump are dead and the world is a more peaceful place. There is more room to spend the global economy on taking care of the world's citizens. One day, all the politicians woke up and agreed that they had to do something good. The good thing was to make sure that children from birth to adulthood were safe, healthy and happy so that we wouldn't have wars and poverty in the future. It was decided that children should grow up with closeness and much more ecology. There would be time to be a child, play in nature, see your family and experience the world with them. There was time for sick days, which meant that far fewer people in the world became ill. Schools had much smaller classes and much better facilities with much more nature. There was a focus on immersion in themes where children could excel in their strengths. When the children became teenagers and had learned to take care of nature and each other, we saw a much greater diversity in the education system so that we as a country could better handle all tasks with our citizens. These now young people were proud and inclusive. They knew that when you paid attention and took your time, things turned out well. And in that way, the world became a better place. Hopefully!

The morning dawned with sunlight breaking through the glass dome that surrounded the Eco-City. I woke up in my zero-energy apartment and watched the drones go to work maintaining the city's gardens. The window of my room looked out onto vertical greenhouses growing fresh fruit and vegetables right in the centre of the city, providing healthy food for the residents. After breakfast, I went to my job at the European Innovation Centre. My route took me through green parks. In the afternoon, I attended the opening of an exhibition showcasing the latest technologies to help combat climate change. I was proud that my team had developed a new energy storage solution that made solar and wind energy even more efficient. The evening came with a town festival where people gathered to enjoy local art, music and gastronomy. I stood under the starlit sky and was happy to live in a world where people have achieved a balance with nature and technology. The world is finally at peace and harmony between peoples.

By 2040, most of our energy will come from renewable sources such as solar, wind and hydropower. We will continue to look at nuclear energy, and I hope that better solutions will be developed. Fossil fuels will be largely phased out. Most cars will be electric. This will lead to less air pollution and a quieter environment. But I also hope that hydrogen will continue to be invested because in my opinion this is a better option. Public transport will be further improved, with faster and more frequent connections. Trains and buses will often be electric. Aviation will also become more sustainable, for example through the development of electric aircraft or the use of biofuels. I hope that from time to time an affordable flight to, for example, the Canary Islands will remain one of the options. Remote working will become more and more normal, giving people more freedom to choose their own working hours and location. This will hopefully lead to fewer traffic jams. Many tasks will be automated, allowing people to focus on creative and complex tasks. Lifelong learning: Rapid technological developments will require people to keep up-skilling and learning new skills. Travel and holidays will be more and more sustainable.

It was the morning of February 12, 2050. The sun shone brightly through the glass walls of the high-rise building in which Emma lived. She sat on her balcony, a cup of coffee in her hand, while her eyes saw the city in the distance. The city that reminded her so much of the old world, but was also so different. In the 15 years since 2025, the world had undergone undeniable changes. The climate, the greatest threat of its time, was finally on the right track. drastic measures had been taken. By 2028, world leaders had come up with a global climate action agreement, which led to an accelerated transition to renewable energy sources. The fossil fuels had practically disappeared, and cities had been rebuilt to live harmoniously with nature. The technology had also made leaps and bounds. Emma remembered the times of social media in the years 2020. By 2029, after years of debate, the world had gone through a digital reset: The huge influence of the tech giants had been greatly reduced, and privacy laws had been implemented that forced even the most powerful companies to review their practices. The large data streams previously collected by humans were now managed more transparently and personally, with a focus on well-being rather than consumption. Education had also undergone a radical transformation. In 2032, the global education system was renewed, allowing students worldwide to learn from the best teachers without geographical barriers. Emma herself had her own children study through advanced virtual learning platforms, traveling to the most remote corners of the world at the same time. The emphasis was now on critical thinking, collaboration, and ecological awareness. There have been major social shifts. The traditional concept of "work" has changed. In 2035, basic income was introduced in many countries, allowing people to spend their time on creativity, innovation and caring for their community rather than being stuck in the grind of endless working hours. Emma no longer worked in an office building, but ran a small business from home, where she helped people design sustainable products. While progress was undeniable, there were also challenges. The world was still divided in some ways, with cultural and political tensions sharpening the world order. The inequality between developed and developing countries had not been completely overcome, and it was clear that there would always be work to do. Emma was optimistic. The new generations had grown up with a different idea of community and responsibility. Today Emma would go to the new educational center of her city, a space where young and old came together to learn about biodiversity and the new technologies that could further heal the earth. It felt like a new start, not only for herself, but for the whole planet. The world had changed, and although there was still work to do, she felt that she was finally on the right path with the rest of humanity. The future, she thought, was promising. In the silence of the morning, Emma thought about the changes she had gone through in her life. What a time to live, and she wondered, as she put down her cup of coffee, what the world would look like in twenty-five years.