News from the future! Slums transformed into sustainable, vibrant communities

This article was originally published in the Global Times, a satirical newspaper from the year 2030 published by EWB Canada. The Global Times shares a positive vision of the future and uses humour and imagination to inform, inspire and motivate people to build a better world for everyone. Learn more and take action through the Hello 2030 campaign at hello2030.ca!

Infrastructure all over the world is more robust, affordable and inclusive than ever before, says a new report from the United Nations. From New York to Rio di Janeiro, Johannesburg to Hong Kong, every city in the world is has pristine roads, sturdy buildings and an infrastructure system that is able to support all people’s needs.

Gone are the days of slum housing, incessant power outages, horrendous commutes and poor healthcare facilities. Slums from Mumbai to Nairobi have transformed into safe, sustainable neighborhoods with prospering communities, growing economies and a robust labour market with jobs for all. The challenges of rapid urbanization are long gone, as cities now seamlessly integrate new residents and provide supportive community services.

Rapid technological advancements coupled by progressive policies have ensured that in cities worldwide, the richest of the rich and the poorest of the poor are all able to access the most basic supports, including secure housing, accessible transportation, reliable electricity, and a regular flow of clean water.

“Today, governments understand the need to maintain and continuously develop our infrastructure,” says leading infrastructure engineer, Stephanie Marton. “Just as our children 15 years ago once wondered what a world without the internet looked like, children today will be puzzled that we once existed in a world in which not everyone had a roof over their head and a reliable means to move around. Antiquated terms such as “homelessness,”, “power-outage”, and “traffic-jam” are quickly being erased from our vocabulary – as they should be!”