Let’s get it right – a vision for the green transition

Four-minute audio vision of what the green transition would look like – paired with a guide on how to make it reality.

First listen to this four-minute audio:

Let’s get it right – a vision for the green transition

In the following text I expand on each section to explain how this vision can become reality, and what we as individuals can do to contribute.


Picture the world as it could be

Take a moment. Close your eyes, if you can. Picture the world as it could be – if we actually listened, if we made the right choices, if we backed the people fighting for a sustainable future.

Breathing clean air

Imagine waking up and stepping outside into air so fresh it feels like that crisp mountain breeze you only get on holiday. No smog, no thick haze hanging over the city, just clean, pure air. Kids with fewer asthma attacks. Elders with stronger lungs. Trees greener, flowers brighter.

How do we get there?

We reach this future by phasing out fossil fuels and transitioning to clean energy. Coal-fired power plants and petrol engines are the biggest contributors to air pollution, producing fine particles that damage lungs and shorten lives. Countries that have reduced air pollution have already seen dramatic improvements in public health. The good news? The solutions are here renewable energy, electric transport, and strict pollution controls.

What can you do?

  • Support clean energy policies and politicians who push for them.
  • Switch to green energy providers where possible.
  • Reduce car trips and advocate for better public transport.
  • Spread awareness most people don’t realise how much of an impact fossil fuels have on their daily health.

A world without fossil fuels

In this world, we don’t rely on coal, oil, or gas anymore. The old smokestacks have been replaced by fields of solar panels, wind turbines stretching across the horizon. Rooftops glisten with solar panels. Towns power themselves with the sun and the wind. And energy? It’s affordable, reliable, and clean. No more price spikes. No more dependence on unstable markets. No more pollution poisoning our lungs.

How do we get there?

The shift to renewables is happening, but it needs to accelerate. Countries like Denmark and Germany have shown that wind and solar can power entire nations. Storage technology, grid modernisation, and community-driven energy projects are making it easier to leave fossil fuels behind.

What can you do?

  • If you own a home, install solar panels or join a community solar project.
  • Support businesses that use renewable energy.
  • Push for policies that phase out fossil fuel subsidies and support renewables.
  • Learn about grid storage solutions like batteries and advocate for their expansion.

The future of transport

On the roads, something has changed too. The streets are quieter. No roaring engines, no thick exhaust fumes curling through the air. Cars glide by, electric and efficient. Buses, trams, and trains run smoothly, powered by clean energy. Air travel? It’s been revolutionised running on sustainable fuels, cutting emissions to near zero.

How do we get there?

Transport is one of the biggest emitters of CO₂. To change this, we need to scale up electric vehicle production, improve charging infrastructure, and invest in clean public transport. Aviation, too, is starting to see innovation with sustainable fuels and electric planes.

What can you do?

  • Choose electric or hybrid cars when possible.
  • Use public transport, bike, or walk more often.
  • Support policies that invest in better transport networks and EV incentives.
  • If you fly, consider offsetting emissions or choosing airlines investing in sustainable fuels.

Greener cities

And cities… well, they’ve never looked better. Green roofs, vertical gardens on high-rises, streets shaded by trees instead of concrete heat traps. Buildings that cool and heat themselves efficiently, wasting nothing. And the best part? It’s not just about saving the planet it’s about making life better.

How do we get there?

Green urban planning is key. Sustainable buildings, tree-lined streets, and smart energy use can reduce emissions while improving quality of life. Numerous cities have already integrated nature into urban life, showing how livable a green city can be. Some examples:

Copenhagen, Denmark – A global leader in sustainable urban planning, Copenhagen aims to become the world’s first carbon-neutral capital. The city features extensive cycling infrastructure, energy-efficient buildings, and a district heating system powered by renewables. Green roofs and pedestrian-friendly streets make it a model for sustainable living.

Stockholm, Sweden – A pioneer in sustainability, Stockholm has extensive green spaces, carbon-neutral buildings, and an ambitious goal to be fossil-fuel-free by 2040. The Hammarby Sjöstad district is a model for sustainable urban living.

Oslo, Norway – Oslo is reducing car traffic, investing in public transport and electric vehicles, and aiming to become carbon-neutral by 2030. The city also integrates green roofs and sustainable architecture in urban planning.

Reykjavik, Iceland – Almost entirely powered by renewable energy (geothermal and hydroelectric), Reykjavik is investing in sustainable transport and aims to be carbon-neutral by 2040.

Vancouver, Canada – With one of the greenest building codes in North America, Vancouver is committed to becoming the world’s greenest city, focusing on clean energy, green transport, and sustainable architecture.

Singapore – A dense city-state pioneering vertical greenery, smart urban planning, and sustainable water management. Singapore’s Green Plan 2030 integrates rooftop gardens, nature corridors, and energy-efficient buildings into its urban landscape. Its advanced public transport system and desalination facilities contribute to its goal of becoming a “City in Nature” while balancing rapid urbanisation with sustainability.

Amsterdam, Netherlands – Known for its extensive cycling infrastructure, Amsterdam is also investing in renewable energy, circular economy initiatives, and sustainable urban planning, such as the development of the eco-friendly IJburg neighbourhood.

Freiburg, Germany – Often called “Germany’s greenest city,” Freiburg has sustainable transport, solar-powered buildings, and eco-friendly districts like Vauban, where car use is limited, and energy efficiency is prioritised.

Curitiba, Brazil – Famous for its innovative public transport system, Curitiba prioritises green spaces, efficient urban planning, and sustainable housing developments.

Vienna, Austria – Vienna has extensive green spaces, energy-efficient housing projects, and a strong emphasis on public transport and sustainable living.

What can you do?

  • Advocate for tree planting and green spaces in your city.
  • Choose energy-efficient housing where possible. Use your bicycle more often.
  • Support urban policies that prioritise sustainability over short-term development.
  • Reduce your own household energy use with smart appliances and insulation.

A thriving green economy

And what about jobs? This world isn’t just about cutting emissions it’s about building something new. Millions of people are working in industries that don’t destroy our future. Manufacturing solar panels, designing wind farms, restoring forests, building better transport systems, developing smarter agriculture. The economy hasn’t collapsed it’s flourished. New industries, new opportunities.

How do we get there?

The green transition is already creating jobs, but workers need support. Governments and businesses must invest in training programs to equip people with the skills for new industries. Fossil fuel workers must not be left behind they need pathways into renewable energy, construction, and sustainability sectors.

What can you do?

  • If you’re a business leader, implement an ESG plan and invest in sustainable practices.
  • If you’re a worker, explore opportunities in green industries.
  • Push for government programs that support workers transitioning to sustainable jobs.
  • Support companies that are leaders in the green economy.

Regenerative farming and nature restoration

Farmers have seen the change too. Instead of depleting the soil, they’re restoring it. Regenerative farming is pulling carbon out of the air, keeping our food system stable, resilient. The land is alive again. The rivers are clearer, the fish are returning.

How do we get there?

Industrial agriculture is one of the biggest drivers of deforestation and soil degradation. But regenerative farming, reforestation, and sustainable fisheries can turn things around. Techniques like no-till farming, agroforestry, and precision agriculture are already proving that farming can be both productive and climate-positive.

What can you do?

  • Support regenerative agriculture by choosing sustainably sourced food.
  • Advocate for policies that fund soil restoration and reforestation.
  • If you work in agriculture, explore regenerative practices.
  • Reduce food waste less demand means less pressure on ecosystems.

The role of people and communities

And the most remarkable part? We didn’t get here because of a single hero. Not one government. Not one corporation. It was people. Ordinary people. Communities. Businesses. Leaders who chose the long game over short-term profit. Voters who demanded better. A world that said: enough!

How do we get there?

This future isn’t built by someone else. It is built by us. Governments set the framework, but it is individuals, communities, and businesses that drive real change. When enough people demand better, leaders are forced to act.

What can you do?

  • Vote for leaders who take climate action seriously.
  • Hold businesses accountable support companies doing the right thing.
  • Get involved in local climate action groups.
  • Use your voice talk about these issues, educate others, demand better.

The choice is ours

Right now, we’re standing at a crossroads. We can let the worst predictions come true or we can make this vision a reality. It starts with demanding more. From ourselves. From our leaders. From our businesses. It starts with supporting those who are fighting for a future worth living in.

The next decade will define everything. What world do you want to wake up in?

The choice is ours. Let’s get it right.


Embracing our clean energy future

Australia is leading the clean energy transition. This is a story to tell the world. One in three households have rooftop solar. Already 40% of the main national power grid is powered by wind, solar and storage. We are on track for 80% renewables by 2030.

South Australia is moving even faster, set for 100% clean electricity by 2027. Hosting COP31 in the state is also a chance to showcase clean energy export industries, especially plans to produce green iron and green steel at the Whyalla steelworks.

Australia is the world’s largest exporter of raw iron ore, but is well positioned to export more-valuable, and lower-polluting, green iron to major economies in our region. The potential export value of green iron is estimated to be $295 billion a year, or three times the current value of iron ore exports.

More broadly, our clean energy exports – including green metals, green fertilisers and green fuels – could be worth six to eight times more than our fossil fuel exports.”
~ Wesley Morgan, a Research Associate at the Australian Human Rights Institute’s Australian Climate Accountability Project and the Institute for Climate Risk and Response at UNSW Sydney.