The Future of Sustainability 2024/25: Reimagining the Way the World Works A Forum for the Future initiative in partnership with The Earthshot Prize, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors and Trane Technologies. Amid escalating global challenges, we’re showcasing the social and climate initiatives that are already shaping a better future. Transformational change is not only possible, but already happening The Future of Sustainability: Reimagining the Way the World Works is showcasing examples of individuals and/or organisations that are fundamentally reimagining how we live and work – with game-changing potential to create a future in which both people and the planet thrive. We're set on reigniting hope by bringing a much-needed focus on the successes and innovations already playing out on the frontlines of sustainability. Why? Because for too long, the world’s responses, while well-intentioned, have fallen short of creating the transformational change needed. But how can we create transformational change? Forum for the Future is collaborating with change initiatives—or ‘Bright Spots’—each demonstrating one or more of six characteristics key to transformational change. Drawing on almost 30 years of experience exploring the future of sustainability, we have selected Bright Spots on the basis they demonstrate one or more of these characteristics of transformational change. Each Bright Spot offers a glimpse of alternative futures. Collectively, they demonstrate that change is not only possible, but already happening. So why not join us on this journey? Together, we'll explore the social and climate initiatives challenging the status quo, what we can learn from them, and what the implications are for transitions in how we produce and consume food and energy, and in how and why businesses operate. Finding hope in an age of polycrisis In an age of polycrisis, hope becomes a deliberate act. Forum CEO Hannah Pathak spotlights the 'Bright Spots' already reimagining how the world works. Why the future of sustainability lies in today's 'Bright Spot' initiatives As time to avert the worst of our climate and social crises runs out, Forum's Chief Acceleration Officer, Dr Sally Uren, argues the need for radical collaboration and bold imagination, and explores the opportunity we have to embrace a blueprint for transformational change. Meet the Bright Spots: Comunidad y Biodiversidad Building resilient fisheries, livelihoods and ecosystems through community-led conservation Husk Power Solar minigrids that bring clean energy to off-grid communities Indigenous Carbon Industry Network Advancing climate resilience and cultural preservation through self-determination Our Zero Selby Community-led, resident driven contribution to a just transition Ports for People Community-driven transition to zero emissions in shipping Safi Organics Improving farmer yields through carbon negative fertiliser Ecosystem Services Market Consortium (ESMC) On-farm, farmer-focused pilot program in the Southeastern US in collaboration with Forum for the Future Atutu Powering up communities to harness their own energy Resham Sutra Weaving livelihoods for rural women through sustainable silk production Coast4C Untangling complexities of the blue economy through seaweed farming Farmerline Scaling climate-smart agriculture for smallholder farmers to secure Africa’s food future Mol-e Turning electronic waste into economic value through AI-driven recycling solutions Meli Bees Network Regenerating ecosystems and livelihoods through Indigenous-led solutions School of System Change Helping changemakers make complexity work Raven Indigenous Capital Partners Empowering Indigenous and Native economies through a unique impact investment approach Snowchange Cooperative Restoring the Arctic’s carbon vault by protecting the northern peatlands East Coast Exchange Reimagining local economies through community-led trade Kiva Supporting displaced communities through financial inclusion Vesper Hill Enabling action for social and climate resilience through creative exploration Greenergy Solar Philippines Powering communities with local solar solutions and affordable clean energy access WILDPLASTIC Transforming plastic waste through circular solutions and steward‑owned governance Lindfield Driving collective action and building a ground-up citizen-driven movement for rewilding Yorenka Tasorentsi Regenerating Amazon ecosystems through Indigenous-led reforestation, agroforestry, and ancestral wisdom Himalayan Futures Lab Cultivating youth foresight for resilient mountain futures Sarafu Network Decentralising money through blockchain-based commitment pools Pinkcollar Redefining domestic worker recruitment through ethical hiring in Southeast Asia Transcap Initiative Transforming finance through collaborative innovation and systemic financing Finding the Bright Spots in our midst: six characteristics Forum’s Futures Lead, Alisha Bhagat, and Senior Futures Centre Strategist, Siddhi Ashar, consider how futures tools and long-term thinking can help us scale and amplify the social and climate initiatives giving us hope. They also talk to six characteristics representing what’s urgently needed: transformational change. Taking inspiration from the Bright Spots, where can we focus? A call to action What are the Bright Spots teaching us? How can we challenge and reimagine the status quo? And where can we focus today’s efforts to maximise our impact? From seeds to systems: Bright Spots and the road to 2050 In this special edition of The Futuring Podcast, Forum’s Alisha Bhagat (Lead, Futures) is joined by leading futurists Cat Tully, Madeline Ashby and Radha Mistry for a powerful conversation set in the speculative but tangible future of 2050. Making sense of the Bright Spots: what grows in the cracks Explore how the Bright Spots help us read the cracks in our old and current systems, showing us exactly where these systems are unfit to deliver socio-ecological flourishing, and where transformation is already taking hold. Download the compilation report Discover key highlights from the campaign including the characteristics that define a Bright Spot; an overview of the Bright Spots featured in this campaign; and futures analyses on how we can grow more Bright Spots and enable them to scale. Download now "To address our environmental challenges we need to celebrate and support the leaders creating bold action. Whether they are start-up founders, city officials, NGOs, Indigenous leaders, policy makers or a combination of these working together, we are continually amazed and inspired by these ingenious changemakers. It is incumbent on all of us to urgently find them, follow them, fund them and partner with them to protect and repair our planet." Chris Large, Director of Prize and Portfolio, The Earthshot Prize "The time has come for all of us to act faster, bigger, better, bolder. To do so, we must leverage the collective power of insights and ideas to become not just forward looking but futures focused. We have a responsibility to ensure that envisioning and creating positive, sustainable futures is not a luxury but a necessity. We need to envision transformative paths that center perspectives of the Global Majority; perspectives rooted in centuries of communal wisdom and tradition. The 'Bright Spots' enable us to do that - they will help us radically re-imagine and put resources behind not what will be but what could and should be." Olga Tarasov, Vice President, Inquiry & Insights at Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors "Companies around the world, across every sector, must drive innovation to accelerate decarbonisation through scalable, emissions-reducing solutions that will help enable a better future for all. Propelled by our purpose to boldly challenge what's possible for a sustainable world, we are proud to lead our industry in setting the pace for progress in addressing these global challenges as we continuously advance a net-zero tomorrow." Scott Tew, Vice President of Sustainability, Trane Technologies “Collectively, Bright Spots are giving us a glimpse of alternative futures and showing us that transformational change is not only possible, but already here.” Dr Sally Uren, Forum for the Future's Executive Director and Chief Acceleration Officer The Future of Sustainability 2024/25 is made possible thanks to the support of our valued partners: Let’s reimagine the way the world works, together The future is not something that happens to us, but something that we can actively create with every action we take, and every choice we make. Forum for the Future believes creating a better future in which both people and the planet thrive needs us all to think differently about the challenges we face. That starts with embracing a just and regenerative approach. One in which we: appreciate the greater whole we’re part of; see potential, not problems; value the lived experiences that have shaped today; engage and value diverse perspectives and experiences; and in which we adapt to challenges as we go. If you’re interested in reimagining the way the world works, get in touch. Explore previous Future of Sustainability campaigns: The Future of Sustainability 2023 Courage to transform: An analysis of how businesses are responding to today's crises. The Future of Sustainability 2021 Looking back to go forwards: Reflections on what the past can teach us about what is needed now if we are to shape a more just and regenerative future. Acknowledgements We would like to recognise and thank representatives of all Bright Spot initiatives, whose thoughts and insights helped shape The Future of Sustainability: Reimagining the Way the World Works. Thanks also go to the Forum for the Future team behind the campaign: Siddhi Ashar; Alisha Bhagat; Matt Foster; Tanya Grueneberger; Lisa Ivanow; Nitin Kesar; Amy Langridge; Ariel Muller (who came up with the idea for this campaign); Kristina Gweneth Simundo; Kavya Uchil; Sally Uren; Fern Yu. Manage Cookie Preferences