Here we describe four projects which, we believe, would take WTFutures to the next level. None of them can be done by us alone. Also, there may be better sequels than the ones we have come up with. If you’d like to discuss what happens after this initial work, do reach out!

1. In the Heads of Climate Natives

Ambition: To let young people themselves define what being a Climate Native means, and draw the consequences in terms of what matters to them when looking at the future.

A sub-objective would be to help overcome the gap that seems to be forming between current strategies for climate action, and the expectations of many young people – from those leading the “Gen Z” revolts in several countries at the end of 2025, to those who are aware of climate issues but do not adhere to current forms of activism.

How this could be done: By co-creating a common, yet adaptable protocol that could be used by groups working with young people interested in testing what ideas, aspirations and concerns the expression “Climate Natives” generates, everywhere on the Planet.

We imagine:

• Partnering with 5–7 ‘pioneer’ groups, funded through the project in order to (i) co-create and test the protocol, and (ii) participate in the project’s governance.
• Then, launching public calls to invite other groups to run the protocol with their respective communities, share the results, and discuss the resulting insights.
• Looking for commonalities and differences among local experimentations in order to produce a nuanced, plural, yet compelling description of what being “Climate Natives” might mean, and what consequences this may have.

For/With whom: This project is first and foremost for the young people themselves. In order to do this, we want to work with: youth movements and youth-led organizations; local institutions; corporations, NGOs and community organizers who truly believe in youth engagement; innovative schools, universities, teachers and informal education organizations…

Working with a research organization to validate the protocol and process the results would also be valuable to the project.

2. Giving real power to young people

Ambition: To scan and test various ways to give young people real power in public and private organizations, and understand the benefits and challenges of doing so.

What would it mean to give young people a genuine share in decision-making within public organizations and/or corporations? How could it concretely happen? What are the benefits and risks associated with various options? Under what conditions could young people of different ages effectively and sustainably dedicate time to decision‑making?

How this could be done: We would like to make this project both a real pilot, and a rigorous exploration of existing and speculative directions for real youth participation in decision making.

• At this stage, we imagine that the project should be co-piloted with youth organizations and researchers who have already worked on this issue, and begin with a review of existing experiments, surveys and research.
• It would continue within two local communities, possibly in Canada and France. After collaborative design-fiction workshops to invent various mechanisms connected to various local issues, at least two directions would be effectively prototyped, tested, and evaluated in each community.
• At the same time, we would run a series of online conversations designed to share concrete experiences of youth involvement in decision‑making.
• The project could result in a “toolbox” and a set of guidelines, as well as mechanisms to monitor progress.

For / With whom: This project should be carried out with: International youth movements and organizations; Local institutions and municipalities willing to share real decision-making power; Researchers already working on similar topics; Speculative designers with strong local connections; Foundations interested in how to extend youth participation in their communities…

3. Valuing and supporting activism

Ambition: To recognize and value the skills, knowledge and intelligence developed through activism, making activism a legitimate way to spend one’s professional or learning time.

If, as we intuit, “for most Climate Natives, some (broadly defined) form of activism will be indistinguishable from life”, then activism needs to be socially recognized as a socially valuable activity, relevant in terms of learning as well as work. This project intends to imagine concrete ways to achieve this.

How this could be done:

• By learning from activists and from the few instances where activism is studied and/or recognized as valuable,
• Then working with organizations (schools and universities, corporations, local communities…) to design, prototype and test various ways to value and support activism: Activist CV, Engagement Credits, or Activist Internship ?…
• Creating and discussing a “Guidebook” for the professional, academic and social valuation of activism.

 For / With whom:
This project is primarily for young people engaged in climate and social justice movements, who often struggle with the lack of recognition of the value of their engagement. However, it could eventually benefit virtually all Climate Natives.

It would be carried out with: Youth organizations; Universities, employers, and institutions open to experimenting with alternative forms of accreditation; and a group of speculative designers.

4. Bridging the gap between Climate Natives and Corporate Social Impact

Ambition: WTFutures has identified a significant misalignment between Climate Natives and both public institutions and (at least) large corporations. Many corporations, in particular, have a hard time attracting and retaining young people, both as customers and employees.

This project intends to partner with a few large corporations with a sincere commitment to sustainability. Its goal is to involve young people, including those most critical of corporations, in imagining how a true focus on social and ecological sustainability could transform corporations in general, and the participating organizations in particular.

How this could be done: This project builds upon another Plurality University Network’s flagship program, The Emerging Enterprise (2024). Mixed groups of Climate Natives and representatives of 5–8 corporations, with the help of science-fiction writers, would:

• Imagine fictional corporations that make sense in the future;
• Test them against the ten “Archetypes” of corporations of the future created by The Emerging Enterprise;
• Apply their common insights to imagine several ways in which some of the participating corporations could transform themselves between now and 2050;
• Identify common insights as well as differences, and future directions both collective, and within each participating organization.

For/With whom: This project should initially involve fairly large organizations with an already significant CSR (or equivalent) activity focusing on both social justice and environmental impact, as well as an equal group of young participants: students, activists, social entrepreneurs, etc. The project could unfold at different scales, from international (happening mostly or entirely online) to national or even local (for example, with the participants of one of WTFutures’ local projects).