2040
Firstly, I will acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land upon which I write this piece…the Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the Eastern Kulin Nation and I pay respect to their Elders past and present.
A world where we pay the true ecological cost of all goods and services. A world where our natural capital is not considered an externality but is valued for what it really is – the source of all of our resources and the very thing which allows us to survive and thrive as a species.
A world where we have stopped competing for power and influence and where we have evolved to be more connected with each other and the planet. We must realise that we can continue to progress and create abundance for everyone if we manage our common resources responsibly and allow our natural systems to regenerate. A world where there is plenty of sharing and caring!
Envisioned through The Futurenow Project, 2020
Ben Krasnostein
Wurundjeri Country, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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Image generated with Leonardo, 2026
PROMPT: A thriving commons on Eastern Kulin Country, Melbourne, 2040. A native forest edge meets a community market — people of many backgrounds exchange goods grown from the land, sharing food, tools, seeds, knowledge. River red gums and yellow box stand tall above timber market stalls. A woman hands jars of preserved food to an older man; children move between adults. Worms and root systems are implied in the living soil beneath. The scene feels abundant, ecologically coherent, and quietly joyful — a world where natural capital is finally seen for what it is. Cinematic photorealism, golden hour light through eucalyptus canopy, high dynamic range, ultra-realistic, 8K detail.