FUTURESCAPEs
LOOKING AROUND IN 2035 : PLANET EARTH
Planet Earth
It was a common idea in the 2020’s that an all-pervasive singular AI mind would solve planetary scale problems, and help heal the planet that Humans had battered beyond all semblance of hope.
What actually started happening in the 2030’s was the birthing of various interconnected “Hives” of linked intelligences - sharing data and information amongst themselves, collaborating to address the biggest problems of our time.
The first few Algorithms were tasked with a reimagination of the financial system and global wealth redistribution. Banking records were scrutinised, shell companies were instantly dissolved. A slew of new laws taxed the wealthiest 1% with a 73% climate tax that enabled a shift towards a more equal society. Billionaires and their assets were systematically reassigned. Social welfare laws created a global universal basic income.
A bold new regime enforced an immediate grounding of all industries with a significant Carbon footprint, and crippling economic sanctions forced bold strategic pivots amongst the big polluters.
AI-driven financial reports showed us a harsh report card of our time on the planet. We needed a post-growth paradigm, and a fundamentally new understanding of our relationship with the planet.
After the Industrial age fuelled unsustainable growth, humanity had lived in an illusion of unlimited profits on a planet with limited resources. This illusion was now over. Infinite growth is symptomatic of Cancer. Cold AI calculations and recaliberations helped Industries to move towards achieving equilibrium and balance while respecting Planetary boundaries.
Humanity needed to slow down.
Propoganda Poster : Texas 2035
The next set of Artificial minds were tasked with creating a zero carbon economic system. International flight tickets more than quadrupled in cost, and whole fleets of ships were docked permanently.
The Luxury liner industry was banned in entirety.
For years, campaigners had highlighted rampant unsustainable practices, including the large scale dumping of sewage and untreated wastewater, alongside emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gases. Infact a report released by the Brussels-based NGO Transport & Environment stated that Europe’s fleet of 218 cruise ships emitted as much sulfur oxide in 2022 as a billion cars.
The first few ships were converted to offshore farms, with retrofitted hydroponics and solar powered pumps irrigating the newly added deck-farms. Sunday Floating Markets became brand new hangouts for youth in the city.
The large sculpted volumes of liner hulls were now being considered as readymade housing, with built architecture scaffolding supporting reassembled decks and large sweeping balconies. As more of these behemoths make their way to their permanent docks across the globe, new uses are constantly emerging.
Massive carbon extraction practices were enacted across dense cities in the global south. Huge subsidies provided to Carbon entrepreneurs created a host of manmachine partnerships aimed to sequestering carbon at source and at scale.
Cities across the world installed neighbourhood suction fans, slowly extracting and pumping atmospheric carbon into water reservoirs, and pumping the carbonated water deep underground into basalt caverns.
Carbon sequestration retrofits : Vietnam 2035
Carbon sequestration retrofits : India 2035
Carbon sequestration retrofits : Egypt 2035
Zero carbon societies began springing up around the world, with a complete ban on travel and an emphasis on using their basic incomes collectively to form green communes. AI-enabled perimeter walls allowed realtime sensors and atmospheric data to be collated and enforced.
Emission taxes forced the move from an industrial economy to a Craft economy, where fewer exquisitely produced quality objects replaced the mass-market paradigm of the 2020’s.
Zero Carbon Enclave : Indonesia 2035
Zero Carbon Enclave : Indonesia 2035
Zero Carbon Enclave Construction and monitoring Drones : Indonesia 2035
The End is Here.