We collected 100 voices, perspectives and visions on the future. Have a look!
The big question: What can we do today and in the future to create a world in which sustainability is the new normal?
“We already have what it takes to create many liveable futures on our blue marble. By combining human empathy and creativity with artificial intelligence and proven technologies — new and ancient — saving the world becomes entirely possible. And who will pay for it, given all the talk about limits to growth? The market for regenerative energy and sustainable products is still evolving — it will grow, but this time without damaging life on Earth.”
– Esther H. (translated from German)
“For me, sustainability means responsibility that has a ripple effect.
Not only ecologically, but above all interpersonally, socially, digitally and economically. I design systems so that they do not exhaust themselves, but rather support themselves: in everyday care, in dementia projects, in dealing with AI – and in my vision of the economy as a living, circular organism. I believe in principles that focus on connection rather than wear and tear – on passing on knowledge, community and intergenerational responsibility. My projects are not meant to impress, but to endure. For me. For others. For tomorrow.
For me, sustainability also means: approaching my own exhaustion with mindfulness. And shaping communication in such a way that it supports – clear, functional, connecting. At the heart of all this for me is: neighbourhood. Not as a romantic idea, but as a concrete, lived connection – as the smallest, most effective building block for resilient coexistence. It is my starting point for genuine systemic change: because it changes the way we think and act – and anchors sustainability in the social sphere, where it begins, takes effect and resource conservation becomes a matter of course.”
– Wilma S. (translated from German)
“Hello, I’m Marie, 28 years old, from France, and I’ve been living in Germany for five years. I wouldn’t call myself an expert on sustainability, but it’s a topic that concerns me, and I’m trying to become more conscious of my behaviour, step by step.
For me, that means consuming less, choosing regional and seasonal products, avoiding plastic and, where possible, avoiding air travel. Even if these are only small changes, I believe they can make a difference. And if we all act in this way, it can have a powerful impact.
Clear political measures, investment in sustainable technologies and education are also needed. Young people should learn early on what it means to act responsibly towards the environment. That’s why we also need people who can act as role models and spokespersons for everyone. If they understand what’s at stake early on, they can pass on what they’ve learned and bring about long-term change.
Companies also play a key role in this – for example, by not just talking about it, but taking concrete action: through environmentally friendly production processes or climate-neutral supply chains.
For me, sustainability also means respecting resources and future generations. I don’t have children, but I do have a niece – and sometimes the future scares me. Nevertheless, I hope to leave her a world in which she can live well.
Thank you for allowing us to express our opinions. I am excited to see what the next steps will be.”
– Marie, 28 (translated from German)
“As an IDG (Inner Development Goals) Ambassador and mindfulness coach, I know from my own experience that change is not easy for most people, especially when it means letting go of things they have grown fond of. Change always starts with me, my self-awareness, my role, my inner willingness to contribute. Global challenges, including sustainability, require inner development to complement external solutions, as they are not technical but ‘adaptive challenges’.
The slow progress towards achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) shows that we are currently unable to address the world’s ‘adaptive problems’ effectively and in a timely manner, partly because we lack the necessary individual and collective inner abilities and skills. Related research has shown that the inner dimensions of human beings, which include our individual and collective beliefs, values, worldviews, and the associated inner capacities and skills, are powerful levers for change. It has shown that the threats and crises we face are in fact a reflection of an inner, human crisis. It has made it clear that this inner crisis is based on an increasing separation from ourselves, others and nature, and that this separation is an integral part of modern life.
This means that we need to learn more about ourselves again, connect with nature and others who open up new perspectives for us, rediscover things or see them with new eyes and, above all, with our hearts. Nature-based learning can be a key here, transferring solutions that nature has been practising for millennia in its self-healing powers and regeneration to our own lives and actions.
There is a growing community of scientists who, together with educators and practitioners, have created a field of change and communities of practice that support a shift towards a new sustainability narrative/paradigm. The Inner Development Goals Organisation is an important player in this context.
Inner Development Goals (IDGs) is an organisation that focuses on promoting personal development. We research, collect, communicate and moderate events on scientifically based skills and qualities that help us lead purposeful, sustainable and productive lives. We look forward to contributing together with you.”
– Klaus M., IDG Cologne/Bonn (translated from German)
To shape a sustainable and inclusive future, we need a stronger commitment to making sustainability accessible to everyone. This means designing processes where every voice truly matters, and where communities have the power and resources to shape the solutions that affect their lives.
Practically, it means creating spaces where people can come together to share their perspectives openly and honestly—even when views differ—without fear of judgment or condescension. It means asking questions with curiosity rather than assumptions, listening to understand, and recognizing the knowledge and experience that each person brings.
It also means meeting people where they are: understanding their daily realities, their values, and what they can realistically contribute.
– Flandra S.
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