7 Continents Predict a Hopeful Future: A Climate Action Campaign from the UN and Purpose

Oct. 22, 2024

The UN's Verified for Climate initiative, in collaboration with the social impact agency Purpose,  tries to answer that question with "The Future Thanks You" a campaign that translates climate misinformation and doomism to refreshing, imagination-driven messages of hope. 

The campaign asked more than 25,0000 people to imagine a positive, renewable-energy-driven future for 2045 one filled with green landscapes, clean energy, and vibrant communities—and showed them how we can make those visions a reality.

How it works

Behavioral science shows that hope and belief in one's ability to make a difference are far more motivating than fear or guilt. Participants were asked three simple but profound questions about their lives in 2045: 

• What does their day look like?
• What do they see out their window?
• What actions do they appreciate that made the world better?

Their answers were used to create seven hero videos of personalized future scenarios. 

The campaign introduces renewable energy as the foundation for achieving these dreams.

Voices from Around the World video series. 

Each video features an individual who represents a continent’s vision for a better future:

• Africa: Amos Kimutai imagines a future of green, interconnected landscapes where technology and nature coexist.
• Antarctica: Maggie Dewane envisions a world centered on biodiversity, with humans and animals thriving together in pristine environments.
• Asia: Nala Aprilia dreams of crystal-clear skies and pollution-free cities, where environmental education drives sustainable action.
• Europe: Love Ssega foresees a joyful, technology-driven future that emphasizes collaboration and redefines wealth.
• South America: Samela Sateré Mawé envisions a future shaped by biodiversity and ancestral wisdom. 
• Australia: Belinda Baggs imagines rewilded landscapes, clean oceans, and partnerships between humanity and nature.
• North America: Governor Stephen Roe Lewis envisions self-determination for Tribal nations and a future built on holistic health and environmental preservation.