Now is the time to decide what type of future we want to build. Climate change is the result of a life style which has, over a long period of time, exceeded the capacity of our environment. The problem differs from most other global challenges, because of the continuation of our activities that accelerate the change, while the long-term effects have been developing almost unnoticed. In order to secure our future, the direction of development must be altered. Future development must be sustainable in the long term, defined by ecological, economic and social parameters. Incentives for change are to be found not only from environmental factors resulting from climate change, but also from other major trends in society, such as the energy revolution, innovations in technology and transformations in age and cultural structure. Sustainable development poses challenges in both everyday activities and political decision making, as well as urban design.