It’s 2057. Forty years from now. What does the world look like? Forget any dystopian visions you might have seen – there can be a glorious future ahead of us all. Here’s a quick look.

Let’s start with one of the greatest achievements in the history of humankind: curbing climate change. We did it. We managed to halt its seemingly unstoppable path to destruction. Best of all, it was done by the people. Through individual action alone, food emissions are down by around 70 per cent.

Our oceans are once again full of life, our rivers repopulated and unpolluted. Trees are back on previously bare hills, and wild animals have taken up residence in our countryside. We’ve re-engaged and reconnected with nature, and we are much happier for it.

How’s our health? We’re in great shape – living longer, more active lives. Some of the biggest killers of yesteryear are fading out. Instances of heart disease, for example, are down by 40 per cent in the US, and we’ve taken huge strides towards beating many types of cancer.

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The resulting savings in healthcare-related costs, between $700-$1,000bn per year globally, have lifted an enormous burden from the NHS, which is now able to function effectively for everyone.

We also fundamentally overhauled our food system. The UK took the opportunity presented by Brexit to become a world leader in creating a sustainable food system that provided jobs, fed families and consigned food banks to the past. Other countries soon followed our lead.

As part of this shake-up, fresher, healthier foods now enjoy government subsidies, making them more affordable and accessible for all. Good health is not determined by class, race, gender, financial status or any other factor.

Everyone the Government blames for the NHS crisis – except themselves Show all 6 1 /6 Everyone the Government blames for the NHS crisis – except themselves Everyone the Government blames for the NHS crisis – except themselves The elderly “We acknowledge that there are pressures on the health service, there are always extra pressures on the NHS in the winter, but we have the added pressures of the ageing population and the growing complex needs of the population,” Theresa May has said. Waits of over 12 hours in A&E among elderly people have more than doubled in two years, according to figures from NHS Digital. Getty Everyone the Government blames for the NHS crisis – except themselves Patients going to A&E instead of seeing their GPs Jeremy Hunt has called for a “honest discussion with the public about the purpose of A&E departments”, saying that around a third of A&E patients were in hospital unnecessarily. Mr Hunt told Radio 4’s Today programme the NHS now had more doctors, nurses and funding than ever, but explained what he called “very serious problems at some hospitals” by suggesting pressures were increasing in part because people are going to A&Es when they should not. He urged patients to visit their GP for non-emergency illnesses, outlined plans to release time for family doctors to support urgent care work, and said the NHS will soon be able to deliver seven-day access to a GP from 8am to 8pm. But doctors struggling amid a GP recruitment crisis said Mr Hunt’s plans were unrealistic and demanded the Government commit to investing in all areas of the overstretched health service. Getty Everyone the Government blames for the NHS crisis – except themselves Simon Stevens, head of NHS England Reports that “key members” of Ms May’s team used internal meetings to accuse Simon Stevens, head of NHS England, of being unenthusiastic and unresponsive have been rejected by Downing Street. Mr Stevens had allegedly rejected claims made by Ms May that the NHS had been given more funding than required. Getty Everyone the Government blames for the NHS crisis – except themselves Previous health policy, not funding In an interview with Sky News’s Sophy Ridge, Ms May acknowledged the NHS faced pressures but said it was a problem that had been “ducked by government over the years”. She refuted the claim that hospitals were tackling a “humanitarian crisis” and said health funding was at record levels. “We asked the NHS a while back to set out what it needed over the next five years in terms of its plan for the future and the funding that it would need,” said the Prime Minister. “They did that, we gave them that funding, in fact we gave them more funding than they required… Funding is now at record levels for the NHS, more money has been going in.” But doctors accused Ms May of being “in denial” about how the lack of additional funding provided for health and social care were behind a spiralling crisis in NHS hospitals. Getty Images Everyone the Government blames for the NHS crisis – except themselves Target to treat all A&E patients within four hours Mr Hunt was accused of watering down the flagship target to treat all A&E patients within four hours. The Health Secretary told MPs the promise – introduced by Tony Blair’s government in 2000 – should only be for “those who actually need it”. Amid jeers in the Commons, Mr Hunt said only four other countries pledged to treat all patients within a similar timeframe and all had “less stringent” rules. But Ms May has now said the Government will stand by the four-hour target for A&E, which says 95 per cent of patients must be dealt with within that time frame. Getty Images Everyone the Government blames for the NHS crisis – except themselves No one Mr Hunt was accused of “hiding” from the public eye following news of the Red Cross’s comments and didn’t make an official statement for two days. He was also filmed refusing to answer questions from journalists who pursued him down the street yesterday to ask whether he planned to scrap the four-hour A&E waiting time target. Sky News reporter Beth Rigby pressed the Health Secretary on his position on the matter, saying “the public will want to know, Mr Hunt”. “Sorry Beth, I’ve answered questions about this already,” replied Mr Hunt. “But you didn’t answer questions on this. You said it was over-interpreted in the House of Commons and you didn’t want to water it down. Is that what you’re saying?” said Ms Rigby. “It’s very difficult, because how are we going to explain to the public what your intention is, when you change your position and then won’t answer the question, Mr Hunt”. But the Health Secretary maintained his silence until he reached his car and got in. Getty

As a result, every single person on the planet now has enough food to eat. We are finally free from global hunger, which once affected over 800 million people, following the mass reallocation of existing crops and resources.

We have also restored our soils to reclaim the crucial nutrients and minerals lost to modern intensive farming methods. The food we grow is more nutritious now than at any time post-industrialisation.

How was this new world achieved? By major technological breakthrough? Did science come along to solve all our problems? No. It was a change so simple you probably wouldn’t believe it. We just started substituting meat with plant-based alternatives. Meal by meal, day by day, we transitioned to plant-based living.

By doing so, we put an end to arguably one of the greatest crimes of our time: the abuse and exploitation of animals. We no longer subject billions of farmed animals to immense physical and emotional pain and suffering. We now look back at eating animals as abhorrent in much the same way that we viewed slavery in the early 1900s. We ask ourselves just how could we have done this? Why didn’t we stop it earlier?

As demand for meat and dairy decreased, the populations of farmed animals came tumbling down. Those we have now spend their days in sanctuaries, or are welcomed into our homes to live side by side with cats and dogs, positively thriving. We treat all animals equally now, regardless of species.

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Our forests grew back, our health improved, the screams of slaughterhouses quietened and before we knew it we were living in this utopia, our very own Garden of Vegan.

This idyllic future is within reach for you and your children. Today, World Vegan Day, re-think the food you eat. Start by eating less meat today, less again tomorrow, and even less the day after. Be as vegan as you possibly can be. The future is plant-based. The sooner we all realise that, the better for everyone.