In the developing world, we have space to explore new systems; our infrastructure is poor, so it’s ripe for innovative rethinking and recreating. Loadshedding fast tracks us to look at alternative energy systems, as are climate change and the Ukraine war. Day 0 in Cape Town forced citizens to think more carefully about water. Shortages and pollution call on us to shake off the “single-use mindset”. All of this requires external change, but is also very much about shifting mindset, to a space of environmental-, community- and self-care.

Regenerative cities are developed in the North, their designs are beautiful, efficient and well thought through. So we ask, what would a South African version be? We imagine a colourful, earthy, vibrant food market, buzzing with ubuntu, community spirit, full of life and a bit of organised chaos, true to South African form. It would have dance and song in its spirit, artisanal skills and crafts at its core. There would be sounds of bustling energy, calls for hot deals, friendly handshakes and smiles. One would be greeted with the smell of tasty, eclectic food. Things would be handmade or locally produced, and visitors would feel they are meaningfully contributing to a regenerative world. 

Our market tells a story that connects and supports individuals and communities, in a way that is sustainable. It celebrates our indigenous practices, maintains culture and is inclusive. It looks at the aspects of regenerative and healthy living. Energy is generated through solar and wind, with LEDs to light up the evenings. Organic veggies are grown locally, and sold freshly-picked, rich in indigenous practice. Market goods are package free – measure what you need, and re-use jars, containers and bags. Handmade Wonderbags keep food warm, without the use of power. No need for a plastic bottle – as a drinking fountain offers healthy, filtered water. The ground is covered with grass in areas for kids to play and people to picnic. Walkways and roads have perforated paving – groundwater soaks into and refills the aquifer below. A biomimicry-inspired, foundation free, geodesic dome made from up-cycled wood and glass, creates a community hall for education, arts, culture and connection. Public transport comes in an electric bus, while others travel on bicycles and enclosed electric bikes. 

Clean air, high creativity and a healthy environment makes for a community of active, wholesome and engaged people.

The year is 2050 and much of society’s changes in search of new eras are happening from intentional perceptions and progress. In Brazil, alternative forms of city organization continue to grow and urban villages, local communities and urban quilombos have become a source of self-sustainability, recovery of roots, ancestrality and preservation of cultural identities.

The economy of these places is based on agricultural and artisanal production and on networks of exchange of scientific knowledge and technological artifacts. Trade is done collectively and without intermediation. Urban villages also have their own infrastructure, including renewable energy systems, waste collection and recycling and health services. Education in quilombos and urban villages is valued, with research centers, including the Amazonian Brainforest Collaborative Research Center, where collaboration between countries has developed the exchange of cultures and promotion of solutions for its protection, an example for afforestation in other areas. Technologies are consciously and responsibly used, seeking to complement, and not to replace, traditional ways of life, with the aim of expanding human abilities so that the intentional perception of change continues to be a day to-day exercise.

A day at Favillage starts with a breakfast of fresh fruit and food produced on site and distributed at home and community centers, for those in need. Still in the morning, cars, bicycles and public transportation arrive with students who go to the village school, a reference in decolonial education and which has former students at the best universities. When arriving, we come across colorful houses, full of arts and ancestral symbols, like the Adinkras, which demonstrate not only the respect of the community for the history of its ancestors, but also how the management of the village works: searching in its history for ways to build new policies, technologies and ways of living. During the day, residents who work outside the village use the carpool system, bicycles and public transport to get around. Meanwhile, it is possible to see children playing outdoors, connected with technology, but also with the environment and with each other.

Nights at Favillage are often for rest, but once a week meetings are held to make collective decisions about community management. These are open to all residents and always end with a samba circle, where everyone can socialize.

In 2050, the world celebrated 10 years of the Global Climate Revolution, when the global population rebelled against the imposed economic and political model using global referendums to create radical climate actions.

World politics was forced to radically shift its focus to environmental science, at which point Amazonian countries came together to create the Latin Amazon Research Center, founded with the aim of being the largest center for innovation and open collaboration. Scientists from around the world worked together to develop solutions to climate challenges, exploring ways to preserve it for future generations, becoming a beacon of hope for the world. His pioneering research helped mitigate the worst effects of climate. In this context, Brazil took bold steps to face its history of slavery and colonialism, creating ties of historical reparation with Africa.

Brazil has established economic and social partnerships with the continent, promoting trade and cultural tourism, working to dramatically reduce the social inequalities and discrimination faced by Afro-Brazilians, and recognizing their contributions to the country’s rich cultural heritage. As Brazil continued to build bridges with Africa, it became a leader in promoting global solidarity and cooperation.

In the global context, extreme weather events have become a harsh reality for people, forcing societies to create new models of urban and social organization. Communities came together to develop innovative solutions like floating islands that could mitigate sea level rise, providing safe haven for those displaced by floods, but also new housing opportunities for peripheral communities, allowing society to adapt and thrive in the face of adversities.

Society has managed to evolve politically to adopt technologies that allow for a more participatory and democratic form of governance. Global referendums have become the norm, with people from all over the world voting on issues related to global social and environmental solutions.

As a result, the global political course was set by the will of the people rather than the interests of paid politicians, drastically reducing corruption. Volunteer job rotation has become the norm, with individuals from all walks of life participating in policy decisions. This new model of governance ensured that political power was decentralized and that everyone had an equal voice in shaping the future of their communities and the world.

Image 1: Cities – Conscious environmental interactions and symbiotic feedback focus on regaining of balance

• Biophilic built environment with human-centered design to stimulate, soothe, intrigue, and inspire
• Wild vegetation and community gardens foster local wildlife, improve air quality
• Solar-powered signage, movement-sensing lights streamline energy use
• Low energy electric transport options by boat and gondola; roads built around bikes
• Socialization / relaxation opportunities optimize atmosphere and wellness; café example pictured offers light therapy, vaporized plant oils, binaural beats, intermittent nature sounds to ease the anxiety of city living

Image 2: Neighborhoods -the most foundational social and economic hubs in the needed shift to a decentralized world focus on community empowerment and resource conservation

• All needs can be met within a 20 min walk
• Each self-contained neighborhood (homes, businesses, public space) can be fully owned community real estate cooperatively run through DAOs, supported by community banks ensure money stays local
• Anchored by civic center where people learn, work, play, and advocate
• Schools are 24-hour community resources where students have wide opportunity to interact with and add value their neighborhood, including student led-gardens and renewable projects
• Tool libraries (working in tandem with right-to-repair laws) are an example of blockchain-based resource sharing, as well as foodscaping and ridesharing
• Conscious construction features modular building, repurposed materials as all past and present projects catalogued in open-source GIS
• Blockchain further enables dynamic transit schedules / stop locations, ecofriendly ‘last mile’ of deliveries through e-cargo bikes and underground freight pipelines, political engagement through crowd-sourced legislation, greater government transparency and extension of powers to neighborhood units, and safeguards through social media fact-checking and labeling (not censoring), plus security through multiple currencies and innovations like artists’ pensions

Image 3 Rural life – A blend of tech and simplicity allows flourishing

• Regenerative and syntropic agricultural techniques allow food to be grown anywhere; water cleaning technology is ubiquitous
• Renewable energy (including adaptive wind turbines) and waste-to-energy technologies help create power for needs like community microgrids and locally run mesh internet
• Smallholders bring produce to market through blockchain-enabled networked transport
• Earth houses cool down home life in hot climates; 3D printing, AI, and repurposed biomaterials combine to make modern conveniences and medical products accessible for the previously underserved; virtual and augmented reality provide unlimited education, entertainment, and access to world-wide community

Image 4 The ‘More Than Human’ – A focus on protection and regeneration for the most vulnerable species and those who depend on them

• Sustainable safaris and hunting led by indigenous people and driven by data
• Protected / undisturbed areas such as rainforests subsidized by world cooperatives
• Overfishing stemmed by shoreline seaweed permaculture and drones enforcing water use rights while protecting the world’s most valuable carbon sinks — its oceans
• The retirement of unlimited long-distance travel options makes exotic travel ‘well-earned’

(Everything mentioned above already exists in some form. The above is an example of striving towards a world in harmony. Totally worth it, by the way.)

Our vision of sustainable living in the future, that our planet can support, is a vision that takes time to develop and starts in the now. Thus, it is necessary to strengthen the current proposals for a sustainable system.

Our lifestyle is possible and viable for communities in the tropical Andes in 30 years. It is important to clarify, what motivates us to participate in the call. In the Andes we have a very big phenomenon, that is the migration of people from the city to the mountains and with this pressure they endanger the natural resources of the tropical mountain cloud forests. An example and of the ecosystems at risk by large cities in the Andean zone can be read at the following link (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479718313513). For this reason, the DapaViva Environmental Foundation has created a project called Sustainable Socio-Ecosystems in which the three spheres (Economy, Nature and Community) are strengthened in a sustainable way and will benefit the communities in the future. This is achieved through constant and exciting work including activities such as environmental education, green economy, conservation, community and territorial management, and scientific research.

In the first image that is titled as “everyday living”, it can be seen a future bicycle also our house with solar panels and big antenna. The house is inside a cloud forest with a minimum impact and this space also gives us the tranquility to be able to read and heal our souls. It is important to mention that if the human being is going to live in coexistence with his environment, he would have a satisfied life and with contemplation of his environment he could heal.

In the second image titled “technology and nature”, we see how could be used high-technology drones and camera traps for the benefit of biodiversity and to evaluate the conservation status of ecosystems, which provides the natural resources necessary for the Andean peoples to survive.

In the third image titled “sustainable and responsible consumption” we can see how the communities could grow food and at the same time save water through the use of drones, sell it in an organic market with the support of technology and finally consume it. It should be noted that the consumption model must be local to avoid the emission of unnecessary greenhouse gases.

In the fourth image “conserving and sustain biosphere” we see planting of native trees with the support of robots that could support hard work in the future, create tropical forests and the possibility of generating new natural resources such as water resources. In the second image it can be seen like Robot (Technology) and human take care of a Sloth. Most of the activities in 2050 must contribute to the conservation of our biosphere and technology or AI must be a necessary tool to ensure the survival of humanity. In this sense, our vision of the future is the strengthening and massification of a conscious and responsible coexistence with nature.