Mens byen vågner: Between imagination and realisability How to create a course of action toward distant (climate) goals

Visions of the future play an important role in how organisations, institutions and societies plan and coordinate action in the present. In the context of sustainability, long-term visions and imaginaries have become central tools for setting direction and mobilising change.

In this lecture, Miriam Feuls introduces the concept of futures and examines how distant futures and collective imaginaries shape strategic decision-making. What are futures and imaginaries, and how do they influence how organisations think and act?

The lecture explores how actors balance imagination and realisability when forming strategies toward long-term goals. Using examples from organisations developing and implementing sustainability strategies, Miriam Feuls highlights both the opportunities and the challenges involved in working with distant futures.

By examining how visions of the future help coordinate action across organisations and sectors, the lecture shows how futures thinking can play a crucial role in navigating complex sustainability transitions.

Ultimately, the lecture offers insight into how the futures we imagine today can shape the pathways toward more sustainable societies.