Children have imagined a future with robots being deployed to pick litter, more green spaces to play in and grow fruit and vegetables, as well as electric-only public transport and animals roaming free. The imagination of youngsters has been harnessed to create a mural depicting sustainable cities of our future, taking inspiration from a recent study of 2,000 eight-to-16-year-olds. Over half (58%) said greener cities of the future would need more parks and allotments, as well as more public recycling options (52%).
Almost half (44%) felt that public transport could be much more sustainable, with more trams and electric buses, and 47% said all buildings and bus stops should be fitted with solar panels. Sadly, 46% of children see cost as the main obstacle to building greener cities, while 17% said it was a lack of knowledge by decision-makers. E.
ON, which has its HQ in the city of Coventry and commissioned the study, enlisted local artist Ben Barter and muralist Katie O’Sullivan to bring the hopes of the youngsters to life in a mural titled ‘Our Imagined Future’ which was painted by a group of 9–12-year-old school children and is on display at the city’s FarGo Village. It shows children and robots picking litter, foxes, ducks, and hedgehogs coexisting with humans and high streets full of rental fashion stores and upcycling shops. The mural also features sustainable solutions such as heat pumps, solar panels, and EV chargers as part of a greener future in cities.
Ben B.
