Humanity is facing a profound crisis of imagination. When we think about the future, it’s hard for us to picture a world without waste, without pollution, and without millions of people trapped in poverty.
We stand at a historic crossroads: if we don’t reduce global consumption, we are heading toward an unprecedented ecological catastrophe; but if the economy shrinks, billions will remain mired in misery. It seems as though there is no alternative to destroying the planet if we want to feed and employ our people.
However, the truth is that there are many solutions and alternatives. Millions of people are working every day to lay the foundations for a different future, one in which the economy and ecology are not at odds.
It’s time to abandon the outdated narratives of the 20th century, which see ecology as a limit to development, and embrace new stories where food production and job creation regenerate ecosystems.
We need to redesign the system with a holistic and profound vision, rooted in our interconnectedness with all planetary life and the understanding that it’s not about saving nature—nature will do just fine without humanity—but about saving ourselves by recognizing that we are a part of it.
This means moving beyond seeing life as a market and transcending the concept of sustainability, a term so overused by corporate advertising. It’s not enough to sustain the existing world; it’s not enough to halt destruction. We must restore, revitalize, and regenerate the ecosystems that support life on Earth.
A transformation of this scale requires redesigning our economies, abandoning the obsession with infinite growth, and replacing it with the pursuit of the common good. It means challenging market logic to reduce inequalities and dismantle the financial casino, confronting powerful vested interests in the process.
It also requires reclaiming our democracies, hijacked by corruption, multinational corporations, and big data. We must foster permanent citizen participation, question who has access to our data and for what purposes, and demand transparency from our governments.
We are neither fatalists nor naive. Giving up is not an option. We act with the pessimism of reason and the optimism of will.
We are self-taught. We don’t have all the answers; we make mistakes and learn as we go, with clearer questions than solutions. But we are committed to learning, and our numbers are growing every day.
The way forward is collective. There is a story where we reverse climate change, eliminate world hunger, and reduce inequality. It’s a gigantic, monumental, and complex task, but it’s not impossible.
