Thinking about the future together - Bringing diversity to fruition

How can Berlin be a liveable, fair and ecologically stable city in 2045 – and what does it take to get there? This event invites you to rethink the connection between ecological challenges, democratic negotiation processes and social imagination.

Why do we need a vision of the future?

The climate crisis, declining biodiversity and social tensions pose central questions for our democratic society: How do we want to live? Who is involved in shaping our future? And what kind of future is even conceivable? Research and practice show that without concrete, positive visions of the future, we lack direction. But the future cannot be delegated – it is created through joint debate, through utopias, scenarios and lived alternatives.

Why is multiperspectivity so important?

Democracy thrives on discourse. Complex issues such as nature conservation and environmental protection in particular require the voices of many: science, politics, administration, urban society, culture and civil society. Different perspectives reveal conflicts – and at the same time open up new possibilities. What initially seems irreconcilable can become productive through exchange. Multiperspectivity creates depth of focus, diversity and legitimacy – key building blocks for a resilient democracy.

Why are positive visions so important?

Crises often generate fear and paralysis. To remain capable of action, we need more than just warnings – we need images of what is possible. Visions are not mere fantasies, but tools: they help us to recognise options for action, provide orientation and actively shape change. In times of uncertainty, positive images of the future are not a luxury, but a democratic necessity.

What happens at the event?

The focus of the evening is on jointly developing future scenarios for Berlin: creative, concrete, multi-perspective. Using interactive formats (utopia journey, small groups, fishbowl), we will work with fictional newspaper articles, future postcards and collective images of an urban society in 2045. The results will be incorporated into a vision board – as inspiration for new forms of discourse and coexistence for a sustainable city.