Envisioning Sustainable futures

Envisioning Sustainable futures

First days on the job go hand in hand with the anticipation of what future lies ahead – and with worries about what could go wrong. Today, it is Nora’s first day of her term in Greenview’s local government in the Department of Environment and Sustainability. As she opens the door to her office, her heart flutters in excitement. Finally! Since her early school years, she made it her priority to learn more about climate change and what can be done to fight it. There are so many ways! Everyone can contribute and the action of single individuals can significantly affect the future and now she is in the position to generate even more impact in multiple areas.

Nora sits down at her desk and sighs – first things first. Before she can facilitate change, she has to evaluate and analyse the status-quo of Greenview’s sustainability initiatives. Generally, Greenview is already a modern and eco-conscious city, but there is room for improvement. Based on the assessed impact significance of lifestyles and municipal services, Nora creates a list of potential areas for improvement and adaptation, and identifies

(1) the mobility sector including the infrastructure supporting travelling by plane, train, bus, car, bicycle or on foot within, from and to Greenview,

(2) the food supply chains and promotion, which should feature more local, seasonal and low carbon footprint goods instead of exotic foods and the currently high meat consumption, and

(3) the funding to foster a more circular economy and recycling initiatives versus the current capitalistic linear economy practices and short product lifespans such as fast fashion trends.

Again, feelings of excitement and worry take turns in Noras mind. But she quickly calms herself again as she remembers that she has a few years to tackle these issues. And she is not afraid of failures, because they are just opportunities to learn from mistakes! Help Nora to achieve the challenges together with the community, answer the following questions to draw the sustainable future of Greenview.

What does Nora work will involve when trying to set a sustainable future for Greenview?

Nora will have to reject the idea of change to achieve.

Nora will have to focus solely on historical events to plan and reflect on solutions.

It will imply ignoring the future consequences of actions.

It will involve the development of the ability to imagine and understand multiple futures and scenarios.

Which main concept of circular economy should Nora follow in her sustainability strategy for Greenview?

No pain, no gain.

Sharing is caring.

No waste, zero plastic.

Reuse, recycle, repair.

How could Nora address a sustainable change in Grenview management and development?

By assessing the status-quo.

By impact multiple areas that are affected by eco-harmful practices.

Being in a powerful position to initiate change in the system.

By applying participatory approaches that highlight the impact of one’s own action on the future.

To carry out her job and duties Nora has to ensure to consider sustainability challenges and opportunities from different perspectives. How shall she do it?

She will have to accept the complex nature of Greenview’s issues and develop different scenarios.

She will have to embrace out-of-the-box thinking and be open to experiment with innovative ideas.

All of the above.

She will have to established participatory initiatives for various target groups in the community.

How should Nora face new challenges linked to the development of the strategies she will have to put in place to guarantee a sustainable present and future for Greenview?

She will have to embrace the opportunities and new ideas from the community.

She will have to analyse the challenges/problems and setup and action plan.

She will have to take control and affirm clear rules.

She will have to ignore the problems to move forward with her approach.

To accomplish her job and achieve the goals of her job Nora will have to keep…

Ignoring future considerations.

Rational to understand, analyse and navigate the future.

Present-oriented to keep an easy decision-making process.

Nostalgic for the past, because by remembering the past.