According to a representative population survey conducted by the Bertelsmann Stiftung and the German Institute of Urban Affairs (Difu) together with the opinion research institute Kantar Public, the population's wishes for their city of the future differ significantly from today's image of cities.

"Urban wilderness" meets with the greatest approval. In addition, less waste, lower resource consumption and adequate, sufficient and affordable housing are in demand. The least popular of the visions for the future was the "Sharing City," in which people concentrate their possessions and consumption on the essentials, sharing and borrowing various things more frequently instead of buying them.

Adolescents and young adults are most concerned about climate issues

The ideas of young people aged 14 to 27 differ significantly in some aspects from those of the overall population surveyed. Climate, the environment and energy are particularly important to them. The vision of the "self-sufficient city" is also more popular with them. The "car-free city" is also very important to them. They raise social issues and social interaction significantly more frequently in connection with their wishes for a more sustainable city of the future. They find direct democratic offerings more desirable than other age groups. The task now is to respond to this strong desire for participation.

A virtual press kit with further information, graphics and download link can be found at: www.difu.de/17074

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