John Boone is a twenty-six year-old English engineer that lives in Canada with his partner in the basement level of a house. He and his partner hang out mainly with each other's work colleagues. While he and his partner are aware of the health-related problems associated with mass food production, they still opt for convenience, cost and taste over ethical considerations. They enjoy the material happiness and mobility that their relative affluence gives them. Trans-atlantic flights to visit John's family in the UK are probably the biggest contributor to their carbon footprint. As a typical Gen Yer, John does not recall a time when technology was not a pervasive presence in his life. As a rationale atheist John sees no proof to suggest the existence of a God, although he exhibits empathy for his fellow human beings.

The world in which John Boone now lives deeply saddens him. Average life quality has decreased in the selfish rush to own and produce more. John interacts less with people, working alone from home, and shopping for his nutrient supplements online; a core health need as food quality is now so poor. He is hence very reliant on the internet and computing technology. Fed up of being stuck inside so much, John takes his elderly dog on a stroll around his neighbourhood to relax, although he is one of very few who actually still walk around their community, bored enough to brave the low air quality.

John Boone has witnessed a draconian crack-down on the burning of fossil fuels, in reaction to the escalating oil-wars in the mid-20s. 2026?s nuclear war was a wake-up call to a generally apathetic population - selfishness was not the key to survival. The wealth gap is now wider than ever, as sustainable living can be expensive. As an engineer, John attempts to find better ways to house and feed high-density populations that don't compromise their living standards. He is also active in local council meetings which are conducted online. There is general recognition that 'Life @ 1 Planet' is achievable, but that people must take more responsibility for the impact of their actions.

At 56, John Boone can now look forward to living until he is 120 years old, thanks to medical technology, and recent successful heart surgery. Necessity is currently the biggest driver of change, thus most professions now involve recycling, micro-generation of energy and environmental rehabilitation. John still freelances as an engineering consultant, but mainly teaches ecological history at his local community school, impressing upon the young how delicate their touch must be interacting with the rest of the world. He has seen a lot in recent years and very little surprises him, although he has learned to accept this is the world he helped create and is slowly helping to rebuild; John is optimistic for the first time in 20 years.

We are not there yet. The best scientific minds in China are projecting that Life @ 1 Planet will be achievable by 2100 as long as stringent population controls and resource efficiency are maintained. The global population is still in decline and there is, for the first time, consensus that 'growth' (economic, military or population) is not good. Almost all science funding goes into climate change alleviation projects, micro-generation technology, communication enhancement and re-use/recycling industry. Remediation of the Middle East is underway with special teams sent in to decontaminate the area. Geo-engineering advances are causing rain to fall in Africa at a steady rate, but much of the continent is now designated as a 'non-human zone' making it the largest nature reservation in the world. The symbol of Earth's renewed optimism come in a joint venture between China and the US (with backing from several dozen other nations) that has seen the launch of the first manned mission to Mars. Although the launch - strategically - was planned to coincide with the anniversary of the first Moon Mission, the vast distance means that a landing is expected in early 2051. The 'Moon Shot' for 2050 is the new version of Google Earth that incorporates Ultra High Definition photography from around the world, along with real-time climate information to provide to-the-minute accurate images of anywhere on Earth. This technology also links everyone on Earth through the latest incarnation of the Web. John is sad that he has to explain the excesses of the late-20th/early 21st centuries to his grandchildren; they do not understand how such selfishness and irresponsibility could have been allowed to proliferate so much. The next half of the century promises to be much, much better....