Let’s be, as they say, so for real: The world could use a serious glow-up. Between billionaires racing to space like it’s a midlife crisis on steroids, endless climate disasters, and the general vibe of “What fresh hell is this?” it’s easy to assume we took a wrong turn somewhere. But before you give in to doom-scrolling and despair, consider this hopeful thought from anthropologist and author David Graeber: “The ultimate, hidden truth of the world is that it is something that we make, and could just as easily make differently.”
While some folks are busy hoarding wealth or debating the color of a dress (again), dreamers and visionaries are sketching bold blueprints for a far better, far different future. And we’re not talking about swapping straws or planting trees. These ideas challenge the very foundation of how society works, offering solutions that might seem bonkers—but could actually spark the change we need.
Sure, a few concepts may sound like sci-fi or an ambitious Black Mirror episode, and it may be easy to call them overly idealistic. But hey, isn’t it fun to dream? So grab your fair-trade coffee, settle into your ethically sourced furniture, and check out these 10 under-the-radar visions for a better world. When you’re done, ask yourself: What could you dream up if you let your imagination run wild?
Related: 10 Creepy Reasons Climate Change Is Starting To Look Like A Religion
10 Solarpunk: The Future, but Make It Green
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Think of Solarpunk as the peppy, optimistic cousin of dystopian sci-fi—the one who shows up to the family reunion with a vision board and a compostable glitter bomb. It’s what happens when renewable energy, urban planning, and Pinterest-worthy aesthetics collide in a perfect, eco-friendly storm.
Imagine cities draped in lush vertical gardens, buildings adorned with solar panels so sleek they’d make a Tesla blush, and parks dotted with wind turbines that moonlight as avant-garde art installations. Essentially, it’s like Mother Nature scored a glam makeover and decided to crash the Industrial Revolution’s stodgy party.
What sets Solarpunk apart is its cheery rebellion against the doom-and-gloom narratives we’ve all grown uncomfortably numb to. It envisions a future where humans don’t just stop wrecking the planet but actually learn to coexist with nature—and look fabulous while doing it. Think bioluminescent streetlights, algae-powered trains, and entire neighborhoods designed with sustainability and style in mind. Who says saving the planet can’t also be a vibe?
Solarpunk’s sunny ethos has inspired a whole subgenre of art and literature that practically shouts, “Yes, we can!” while casually adding, “But let’s make it chic.” It’s a movement rooted in possibility, reminding us that utopia doesn’t have to be boring—and that maybe, just maybe, the future doesn’t have to feel like a lost cause. Because if we’re going to dream big, why not dream beautifully?[1]
9 Ubuntu Contributionism: Because Who Needs Money Anyway?
Imagine a world where nobody bothers with money. Not because they’re broke or hiding from student loans but because they’ve collectively evolved past the need for it. Welcome to Ubuntu Contributionism, a concept popularized by South African author Michael Tellinger. The premise is refreshingly simple – instead of hoarding cash, people contribute their skills and resources to the community, creating a system that thrives on cooperation rather than competition.
Here’s how it works: Farmers grow the food, carpenters build the houses, bakers keep the bread coming, and everyone pitches in with what they’re good at. In return, the community ensures everyone has access to everything they need to live comfortably—no bills, no bank accounts, no awkward Venmo requests. It’s like socialism but with less bureaucracy and way more friendly neighborhood vibes.
Critics like to call it utopian, dismissing it as an impossible dream, but let’s pause for a moment. If billionaires can hoard yachts, private jets, and islands, why can’t we hoard goodwill and collective effort? Sure, it sounds idealistic, but isn’t it worth considering a world where we prioritize collaboration over currency? Besides, isn’t the idea of living in harmony—without constant financial stress—just a little bit more appealing than yet another Jeff Bezos space race?[2]
8 Bioregionalism: Let’s Talk About Borders (But Not Those Ones)
Whoever drew the world’s political borders clearly never opened a geography book. Rivers slice countries in half, deserts sprawl across multiple nations, and ecosystems are carved up like a Thanksgiving pie after one too many glasses of wine. This is where Bioregionalism comes in, a philosophy that takes one look at this mess and says, “Uh, let’s start fresh.”
Bioregionalism proposes that instead of organizing societies around arbitrary borders drawn by kings, colonizers, or questionable cartographers, let’s align them with natural ecosystems. Communities would form around watersheds, forests, mountain ranges, or other geographical features, allowing for resource management that’s actually sustainable and for human life to harmonize with the rhythms of nature.
Of course, implementing this would be no small feat—it’s a logistical puzzle of epic proportions. But let’s be real: the current system isn’t exactly a shining beacon of efficiency either. When you think about it, the logic is hard to argue with. If nature doesn’t follow our imaginary lines, why should we?[3]
7 Fully Automated Luxury Communism: Robots, Take the Wheel
What if your biggest worry was deciding which hobby to take up next—pottery or skydiving? Or finishing that novel you’ve been dreaming about writing? That’s the dream of Fully Automated Luxury Communism (FALC), a cheeky but serious vision of a world where robots handle the dull, dirty, and repetitive jobs, leaving humans free to focus on, well, living.
In this future, automation takes care of the grunt work—flipping burgers, building bridges, even sorting recycling—while universal basic income, housing and healthcare ensure everyone’s basic needs are met. Instead of scraping by, people could pursue art, science, or the underrated joy of doing absolutely nothing.
Critics might scoff, but automation is already transforming industries. FALC insists we use this tech to create a society where no one works three jobs to survive. The challenge is ensuring this doesn’t become “Luxury Communism for the Wealthy Few.” Instead, it builds a fairer, more equitable world. At its heart, FALC is about freeing humanity to thrive—to create, connect, and actually enjoy life. And if a little luxury comes along with that? Well, we deserve it.[4]
6 Parecon: Democracy, but for Money
Participatory Economics, or Parecon, is what happens when you take democracy, sprinkle it with anti-capitalist fairy dust, and unleash it on the workplace. Dreamed up by economist Michael Albert, this system kicks corporate hierarchies to the curb and replaces them with collective council decision-making. It’s basically the economic version of “We’re all in this together”—but without the cheesy High School Musical dance numbers (unless you’re into that).
Critics might brush it off as utopian. To which Parecon calmly asks how their current system of yacht-hoarding billionaires is working out. Let’s face it—trickle-down economics was always just a fancy way of saying, “Let the rich keep everything, and maybe you’ll get their crumbs.” Parecon flips that on its head, asking, “What if we built a system where everyone got a fair slice of the pie instead of licking the plate after the 1% finished dinner?”
Really, Parecon isn’t just about money. It’s about creating an economy that values collaboration over competition, effort over exploitation, and fairness over frat-bro favoritism. Sure, it’s ambitious—but so was the moon landing, and that turned out fine (except for the flag wrinkles). Who’s to say something like Parecon couldn’t be the next giant leap for humankind?[5]
5 The Doughnut Economy: Sweet, Sustainable Success
Economist Kate Raworth’s tasty-sounding Doughnut Economy isn’t about baked goods but about balancing a thriving society with a healthy planet. Picture a doughnut: the inner ring represents the essentials people need—food, housing, healthcare, Wi-Fi—and the outer ring marks the planet’s ecological limits. The goal is to stay in that sweet, doughy middle where humanity (all of it) can live well without turning Earth into a smoldering wasteland.
Unlike traditional economics, which is obsessed with infinite growth on a very finite planet, the Doughnut Economy suggests we actually don’t destroy everything while chasing another GDP point. It’s a refreshing shift, prioritizing everyone’s basic human needs while respecting natural boundaries.
Cities like Amsterdam have already embraced this framework, proving you don’t need endless expansion to create a flourishing society. Turns out, sustainability and equity aren’t just buzzwords—they’re the recipe for a better world. Bonus: it’s the only economic model guaranteed to make you crave carbs while saving the planet.[6]
4 Degrowth: Less Is More (and More Is Too Much)
Most economists treat growth like it’s a religion, worshiping GDP as the ultimate measure of success. Degrowthers, however, are here to ask: “What if endless growth is actually the problem?” They argue that our obsession with more—more stuff, more work, more production—is driving environmental destruction, inequality, and burnout. So they call for pumping the brakes and focusing on enough.
Degrowth isn’t about ditching modern comforts to live in caves and eat moss. It’s about rethinking priorities: consuming less, working less, and focusing on community and well-being instead of endless consumption. Picture shorter workweeks, less stress, and swapping strip malls for community gardens. Sounds pretty good, right?
Really, degrowth is a reminder that infinite growth on a finite planet is impossible—and maybe a little absurd. After all, when was the last time you found joy in a bigger to-do list or yet another gadget that breaks after a year? Sometimes, scaling down might be the smartest way to level up.[7]
3 Eco-Villages: Sustainable Living as a Group Project
Ever wish you could escape the chaos of modern life and live in a community where everyone’s on the same page about recycling, composting, and not being a jerk to the planet? Eco-villages are intentional communities designed to live sustainably while proving that saving the Earth doesn’t have to feel like a solo mission—or a Netflix documentary about doom.
In an eco-village, everything is designed with Mother Nature in mind. Think homes built from renewable materials, gardens overflowing with organic veggies, and energy grids powered by solar panels and good vibes. But it’s not just about hugging trees (though there’s probably a bit of that too). These communities emphasize cooperation, shared resources, and a collective commitment to leaving the planet better than they found it.
Examples like Findhorn in Scotland or Auroville in India show how eco-villages are more than just Instagrammable “utopias”—they’re living, breathing experiments in how we can live better together while using less. Sure, it’s not for everyone, but if you’ve ever dreamed of a greener life with neighbors who won’t side-eye your compost bin, an eco-village might just be your vibe.[8]
2 Mutual Aid Networks: Neighbors Helping Neighbors, but Make It Revolutionary
Forget bake sales and awkward PTA meetings—Mutual Aid Networks are grassroots, community-powered systems that get stuff done. At their core, they’re about people helping each other directly, with no red tape, no corporate sponsors, and definitely no billionaire PR stunts. Whether it’s sharing food or another resource, offering childcare, or chipping in to cover someone’s medical bills, mutual aid operates on the radical (but somehow still controversial) idea that humans thrive when we actually care for one another.
Rooted in solidarity rather than charity, these networks have been around forever—think barn-raisings, community potlucks, or your neighbor letting you borrow their leaf blower. (LINK 18) Nowadays, there are even buy-nothing groups online. The networks gained major traction during the pandemic, proving that when systems fail, people step up. Mutual aid isn’t just a feel-good Band-Aid; it’s a blueprint for a world where compassion outranks capitalism. Plus, it’s way more inspiring than watching billionaires fight over the moon.[9]
1 The Venus Project: Utopia-ish, but Make It Kinda Sci-Fi
Imagine a world where money is a relic, politics are passé, and technology serves humanity instead of manipulating it. That’s the essence of Jacque Fresco’s Venus Project, a 21-acre research center nestled in Venus, Florida, where the late futurist spent decades proving that scarcity, inequality, and poverty aren’t inevitable—they’re designed. He coined the resource-based economy, central to the Venus Project.
Fresco wasn’t just an armchair dreamer. He was a social engineer, industrial designer, economist, psychologist, and consultant for everything from aircraft to Hollywood. He designed prefabricated aluminum houses, anti-icing systems for planes, and drafting instruments. (LINK 20) He even built life-sized models of disaster-proof homes. He dug waterways on the Venus Project property to illustrate his vision: a sustainable, moneyless society that thrives on resource sharing, cutting-edge technology, and human collaboration.
The Venus Project’s circular cities wouldn’t just look futuristic—they’d operate with precision, efficiency, and care for the planet. Picture homes that generate their own energy, gardens flourishing in every yard, and agricultural belts powered by hydroponics and aeroponics. Education, healthcare, and arts centers would be centralized, making resources accessible for all, while AI-managed systems would ensure fairness and eliminate waste. No meaningless jobs, no planned obsolescence, and no billionaire ego races—just a world designed to meet human needs, not corporate profits. If we can dream up flying cars and colonies on Mars, why not dream bigger for the planet we already call home?[10]