Question box #5

What collective issues do we need to address to build the future I want?

Photo: Suad Kamardeen

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Themes

With over 160 different themes mentioned, this question elicited a whirlwind of responses featuring an impressive range of topics. From the structure of our world—the environment, the economy, the educational system—to what we’re like as human beings—individualism, discrimination, attitudes—the question elicited an abundance of different contributions. Moreover, participants did not just tell us their thoughts by listing the problems that need to be solved—they also put forward practical solutions.

Global learnings

The environmental imperative turned out to be the dominant leitmotiv, with 35% of participants echoing its call. At the heart of this environmental maelstrom, climate change and global warming stood out, attracting the attention of 17% of participants. Gravitating around this core are a series of closely related issues—pollution, energy production, destruction of our ecosystems, resource management, and overconsumption. Mentioned less frequently but nevertheless of vital importance were access to water, violence toward animals, and issues related to agriculture and food.

The question also revealed a deep-seated concern with regard to individualism and lack of cooperation, mentioned by 17% of participants. Their abhorrence came in many different forms, ranging from sadness about the lack of care and empathy to criticism of intolerance and selfishness.

Fifteen percent of respondents also raised the problem of discrimination and inequality, with particular reference to racism, sexism, and hatred directed at the LGBTIQ+ community.

Economic issues, a constant shadow hanging over our lives, were raised by 13% of participants. Problems of poverty, hunger/malnutrition, and global economic challenges were said to be major obstacles to the desired future.

Education was mentioned by 10% of participants, showing itself to be a crucial problem to be solved. Respondents highlighted the lack of education in essential issues like the environment, finance, and fighting discrimination. They also deplored the fact that not everyone was able to access a quality education.

This question revealed a deep-seated aspiration to a more peaceful, harmonious, and altruistic world, which was reflected in calls for more care, empathy, kindness, and tolerance.

Other themes, although less predominant, deserve a mention. Four percent of participants referred to topics related to wars and conflicts, while mental health issues were brought up almost twice as often as physical health.

Questions of governance, leadership, and civic empowerment—particularly in relation to young people—were implicit in many of the issues raised.

Here we are listening to the voices of a generation that is ready to take charge of its future, and aspires to a world where equity, cooperation, and respect for the environment are no longer just empty words but a norm to which we all conform.

Overview of the main themes

You will find below a graph in which you can navigate to learn more about the themes brought by the participants. Each theme (also called “cluster”) relates to an idea expressed by participants. There are two types of clusters: macro-clusters, which relate to more general categories, and sub-clusters, which break down the ideas into finer detail and are attached to macro-clusters. The percentages displayed correspond to the number of participants who have written about this theme among all participants who answered the question. For readability, only clusters cited by more than 1% of participants are displayed.

The representation below is dynamic: tap or click on the boxes to see the clusters in detail. You can also use the filters.

Differences between world regions

The environment: our primary collective challenge

Irrespective of the region of the world our participants are from, they all see the issue of the environment as the primary collective challenge that needs to be addressed. Human behaviors relating to discrimination, inequalities, and selfishness are also found in the top five in every region. Obsolete educational systems were a recurring theme in contributions from Latin America and the Caribbean, the Middle East and North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, and South Asia.

Tap or click on the boxes to see the clusters in detail. You can also use the filters to compare regions.

Some remarquable answers from the entire world

Non-binary, 22Germany
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We need to understand what climate justice means, that it involves more than just solving the climate crisis (as if it wasn't hard enough yet), but equal rights, human rights, dismantling of the patriarchy (which does not mean to suppress men now), empowering of women, LGBTQAI+, disabled people, and BIPoC in this world that was built for white cis men. We need a system change. Also, it is unforgivable that the people currently in power hardly listen to younger generations and act as if they are not understanding the global problems yet, while working towards money and big companies instead of a better world themselves. The ones with the greatest influence on climate change, which are big companies, should use this influence and stop using campaigns to propagate single human beings have to save the world by eating less meat and taking a bike sometimes instead of a car. We need almost radical decisions by governments that are, for once, not in favor of companies to make more money.
Woman, 18Malaysia
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Among the many collective issues which should definitely be addressed in order to build the future I want, I strongly think that the issues of poverty should be addressed and solved first on a global scale. This is because we are aware that poverty is the revolution to crime and injustice. Therefore, eliminating poverty would not only give a safer environment towards the community but further improve the lives of many in our society especially the younger generation for a bigger and brighter future together.
Woman, 19Irak
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Developing education and its places so that students and teachers can transfer information smoothly. Establish training and educational courses for all and all students and develop and strengthen skills. Because in fact we need a well-studied and educated nation so that we can rise and solve all obstacles, for example, lack of Resources, the lack of health materials in hospitals and health centers, the lack of some vaccines, and even the lack of dental anesthesia in some health centers.. Basically, we need a strong government. We need rulers whose goal is to raise their country and not steal its resources and benefit from them for their own expense. In order to build a prosperous future, we need fair bathers.
Man, 28South Korea
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We need to address climate change urgently and make our societies more sustainable. This includes everything from reducing greenhouse gas emissions to moving towards renewable sources of energy and creating more sustainable consumption and production patterns. At the same time, we need to work on social issues like inequality and lack of access to quality education and healthcare. If we can make progress on these fronts, we will be taking a big step towards the kind of future I wish to see.
Woman, 18Nepal
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I guess publishing daily programs awaring and giving more exceptional knowledge about one's mental health This is the biggest problem of this generation going on. When a person go through their toughest mentally they will be left with only 2 choices in their life. Its either giving up on life or growing more stronger.. in this 2 choice obviously second one sounds better,so to help people and even me I think we all need mental health awareness to build the future we want simply. Having a bad mental health and bad situation together is a different thing than having only bad mental health and a person will go through bad situation in the process of building future. So mental health matters.
N/ABrazil
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I believe that one of the main concerns of young people today is the lack of support and support during the transition to adulthood. Society needs to be united in a way where we can feel safe with our dreams, desires and plans for the future. If a young person knew that there is a support point during this process, many anxiety problems, imposter syndrome would be reversed. Young people want to find paths to their dreams and not obstacles.
Woman, 16Czechia
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We need to address the violence that is happening in the world, for example the war in Ukraine or the injustice and horrible mistreatment and killing in Iran and we need to unite against the people that made it possible. We need to address that climate change is a real thing and that it is a threat against the world.
Man, 15France
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There are technological and environmental challenges that must be met for the rest of our existence. We will have to work to think and be inventive, to push people to the maximum of their abilities. However, we will have to carry out this task while striving to keep a balance between political correctness and what is not pleasant to hear, between inflexibility and change. In short, it is important to advance on the social level, perhaps faster than on the technological level, in order to instil discipline and principles in people, while preserving individual and collective freedoms so that these said people accept change while keeping the good of the past.
N/AN/A
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Let's stop ignoring young people, listen to young people, reflect on their ideas, and above all create jobs. Give us the chance to fight and succeed, wherever and wherever we can estimate our ability. Let's stop closing our eyes to people who ask for help and especially those who only ask to be fed.
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