Scientists have made several predictions on what our future will look like depending on the various effects of climate change. Ideally, the world will grow into a more accepting and sustainable place that’ll support many generations to come. But what needs to happen to make this future a reality? It’s estimated that the world’s population will continue to rise to 9.7 billion by 2050. With our current systems, there won’t be enough water or food to sustain this great population. There are plenty of solutions available and they’re slowly being implemented, paving the way to a sustainable future. 

For an ideal picture, cities will be powered by renewable energy sources like solar panels and wind energy. Cities with less area for nature will feature more green infrastructure like green roofs, permeable sidewalks, and systems for harvesting rainwater. Legislation would have some changes as well such as restrictions on single use plastic and plastic bags. Daily practices would include more families spending time being smart consumers. That includes learning what we’re buying and eating, where it comes from, and what impact does it have. Agricultural practices would also evolve to shifting crops as a way to better use the land and protect it at the same time. Efforts like these would address UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) where people can thrive but not at the expense of the planet. 

Unfortunately, climate change is a very nuanced problem, because every great solution has its drawbacks. The work for change has been slow and tedious, but it should give us hope that our future will be secured by a healthier planet. 

Sources:

https://www.seagoinggreen.org/blog/what-will-sustainability-look-like-in-10-years

https://www.nature.org/en-us/what-we-do/our-insights/perspectives/the-science-of-sustainability/

https://www.epa.gov/green-infrastructure/what-green-infrastructure