In 2016, Britons voted whether or not to leave the European Union. Two campaigns were carried out: Brexit and Remain.

One of the main criticisms of the Stay campaign is about its name. Still. To stay. Stand still. Do not interfere. It makes it feel like a battle between the status quo and the rosy prospect of financial freedom, abundant money for care and education, and booming exports. The image has nothing to do with reality. The British are now acutely aware of this. As of April 2023, 53 per cent of Brits (according to a poll from Statistics ) that it was a stupid idea to quit and only 33 percent still support leaving. Imaging is very important.

Therefore, sustainability is also a disturbing word. It feeds associations with bonding, slowing down, doing less and dutifully complying with what is asked of you. You are not allowed to fly, eat meat and drive as little as possible. For many people, sustainability is associated with climate change and news about it does not inspire much hope. Floods in Pakistan, droughts in the Horn of Africa, Hurricane Ian in America and IPCC reports predicting more misery for us.

Stick your head on the beach

It can leave you with lame wings. It’s no wonder that sometimes we ignore the bad news and still book a vacation to Puerto Rico. Because what can you do right now? You can choose between being depressed or sitting on the couch or burying your head in the sand. Somewhere in a warm country with a cocktail beside your lounger.

What we need is good news and a positive outlook. Let’s start with the good news. We were initially heading for a climate change of 4 to 5 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, the curve has bent to around 3.5 degrees, despite political resistance.

Renewable energy grows like cabbage

Most of the new energy sources are renewable. By 2020, 90 percent of all new energy sources in the world will consist of solar panels, wind turbines or other green sources. 2022 will be the first year that wind and solar energy will have a bigger share than gas in Europe. 37.5 percent of all energy in our union is generated from renewable sources. Even the United States, which stalled under Trump, will get nearly a quarter of its energy from renewable sources by 2022. China, meanwhile, leaves everyone with 47 renewable energy processes. Huge leaps have been made in ten years and we have not stopped.

In 2021, only 11 percent of new cars sold in the Netherlands will be electric. In 2022 it is already 23 percent and the curve continues to rise. We also score well in terms of infrastructure filling in our country. We occupy 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th places in the top 10 European cities with the most charging stations. Electric cars are also getting more affordable. Batteries have become about 97 percent cheaper in the last ten years, according to Bloomberg. You can now buy a new electric car with a range of around 400 kilometers for just over 30,000 euros.

So we did well. On many fronts, the revolution is in full swing and will continue. Not only because we are concerned about the climate, but also because green energy and electric drives are cheaper than their predecessors.

The numbers can help put your mind at ease. But the Brexit campaign shows that certainty can easily be overturned by a few randomly picked or even made-up statistics. In addition to a difficult figure, we also need a picture of the future. A sight that gives us reason not only to know, but also to want. Fortunately, the view exists.

A greener world is within reach

Imagine a world where you see not only more prairie by train from Groningen to Amsterdam, but also forests, new nature and animals. Where the irregularity of the trees defines the scene instead of measured patches of ryegrass.

When you’re out in the capital, you’re a breath of fresh air. You’ll find shade under a tree, the roar of traffic little more than the sound of tires rolling. 70 percent of cars lost due to shared services. We walk around in a city where pedestrians and cyclists define its image, not cars parked everywhere.

There is room to dream about the future. To create an image of a world that is not a hotter version of today, but more human, more natural, greener and less rushed. With free electricity and fresh air. If we dare to have that dream, there is a path to it.