The future in 2040: Sustainable cities full of green spaces Imagine 2040. I am standing on the roof of a high-rise building in the city centre, and around me is a panorama that people could hardly imagine twenty years ago. The city is full of greenery - rooftops covered in grass and flowers, climbing plants covering the facades of buildings, and tree-lined cycle paths and pedestrian zones winding between buildings. The air is clear, the silence broken only by the singing of birds and the gentle hum of electric cars. This is the future I would like to see - cities that live in harmony with nature. One of the biggest challenges facing humanity at the beginning of the 21st century was climate change, air pollution and the associated deterioration in the quality of life in cities. At the time, people often overlooked the importance of nature in our daily lives. But in 2040, we have finally learned to use technology to protect the environment instead of destroying it. Cities are now self-sufficient. Community gardens grow on the rooftops where residents grow their own vegetables and fruits. Rainwater is caught in special tanks and used for irrigation. Energy comes mostly from renewable sources - solar panels and wind turbines are a common part of the urban landscape. Thanks to smart grids, electricity is efficiently distributed where it is needed. Transport has undergone a radical change. Streets are no longer clogged with noise and smog from cars with internal combustion engines. Instead, silent electric cars drive through the city and public transport is completely emission-free. People are choosing to cycle, ride electric scooters or walk more often because cities are safer and more pedestrian-friendly. Many car parks have been converted into parks, squares or community spaces. But most importantly, the way people think has changed. Sustainability has become a normal part of life. Children are taught from an early age about the importance of nature, about sorting waste and about how to protect the planet. Companies and governments are working together on projects that promote ecology and improve the quality of life for all. This is the future I envision - a world where modern technology serves people and nature, where cities are not concrete jungles but places full of life, green and clean air. A future where people have learned to live in harmony with the planet because they understand that our future depends on the health of the Earth.

In 2040, Lithuania will be free and prosperous. Lithuanians who have left Lithuania will return en masse to their homeland. The brightest minds will create new technologies that the whole world will want to use. The medical system will be at the forefront, because we will be using the most advanced diagnostic and therapeutic technologies developed. Medicine will be accessible and free to all, but private practice will not disappear. The latest medicines will be available for diseases that are currently still incurable. Living standards will rise. People will have more opportunities to travel, to go to theatres and concerts. Children will be educated through practical activities rather than just books. Teachers' work will become more prestigious, and respect among students will increase. Lithuanians will be proud to live in Lithuania.

The year is 2050. The war in Ukraine ended in 2026 after Russia capitulated, which by military action led to a coup in the country. A few months later Putin died, reportedly of a heart attack. Twenty years after Russia invaded Ukraine. In the World, nothing has changed, the stronger oppress the weaker, no one cares about climate change, which year after year leads to cataclysms around the globe. If not a flood, then a tsunami or an earthquake. Nothing has changed in human mentality, it's only getting worse.

In 2040, I will be almost 90 years old. Hopefully I'll still be mentally fit and won't have too many ailments so that I can still cope with everyday life. Perhaps medicine has been researched to such an extent that it can give people a longer life. This is particularly beneficial for young people who still have their lives ahead of them. A life in peace and freedom to explore the world, as we had in our youth. I wish us old people a dignified existence, available care options and a financial livelihood, as we will need a lot of money in old age to maintain a certain standard of living so that we don't end up in poverty in old age.