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12 Days of Signals: Day 12 How can shared ownership shape better futures? 💡 Collective Power: In a world that often prioritizes profit and competition, cooperatives offer a different way to organize—built on shared ownership, fairness, and collaboration. These models show how communities can work together to create sustainable, equitable systems. Take the MONDRAGON Corporation in the Basque Country. It’s a network of over 200 cooperatives employing 80,000 people, where workers have a say in decisions, profits are shared, and wage gaps are kept small. For over 60 years, Mondragón has shown how businesses can succeed by putting people and communities first. This approach is getting global attention. The UN’s International Year of Cooperatives in 2025 will highlight how these models can drive progress on big challenges like inequality and sustainable development. Cooperatives aren’t new—but they feel more relevant than ever. As we rethink the future of work and community, they remind us that there are alternatives to business as usual. What could this mean for the futures? Cooperatives could inspire new ways of working and living that prioritize collaboration over competition. Can these ideas expand globally? And how might they evolve to tackle issues like climate change, automation, or economic instability? 💭 Horizon Scanning-insight: Signals of change don’t always come from new inventions—they also come from rediscovering what works. Cooperatives have been around for decades, but as they adapt to modern challenges, they’re inspiring new ways of building fairer, more connected communities. Thank you for joining us for these 12 Days of Signals, we hope you enjoyed it! #horizonscanning #cooperatives #futuresthinking #sharedownership

12 Days of Signals: Day 11 What happens when work becomes more of a choice, and less of a necessity? 💡 The Path to Universal Basic Income (UBI). As automation and AI reshape industries, many jobs are disappearing, and traditional safety nets can’t keep up. Income inequality is rising, and essential roles like caregiving and creative work often go unpaid. UBI offers a way to provide stability and adapt to this changing world. In Ireland, the government has been running an ambitious pilot: hundreds of creative workers are receiving €1,400 (£1,200) per month as a guaranteed income. The aim? To see how a stable, no-strings-attached income affects their well-being, productivity, and contributions to society. For Elinor O’Donovan, one of the participants, this financial support has been transformative. The 27-year-old artist used the opportunity to leave temporary jobs behind and dedicate herself to her craft, even producing her first film and hiring other artists to collaborate. Programs like this are popping up globally, from care leavers in Wales to low-income families in the US. Early results suggest that UBI not only reduces financial stress but also allows people to pursue meaningful work, education, and personal development. Supporters argue that UBI could redefine the labor market, shifting focus toward socially valuable roles like caregiving or creative endeavors. It also raises important questions: How should we reward essential but unappealing work? And what happens to societal structures when financial survival is no longer tied to traditional jobs? 💭 Horizon Scanning-insight: UBI has been a topic of debate for years, but it remains far from mainstream adoption. However, each pilot program brings new data, reshaping its viability as a policy. Experiments like these are where the hypothetical becomes actionable—step by step, the concept edges closer to reality. Stay with us for a final day tomorrow as we have soon explored 12 futures signals in 12 days. #UBI #futurework #futuresthinking #horizonscanning

12 Days of Signals: Day 10 What happens when mountains melt away—and the borders we’ve drawn begin to shift? 💡 Melting Borders: In the Alps, glaciers like the Hochjochferner are retreating fast, reshaping everything from water systems to national borders. Paul Grüner, who runs a mountain refuge on the Italian-Austrian border, has watched this change unfold. Where meltwater once flowed into two countries, it now only flows into Austria, altering a boundary that has stood for over a century. This isn’t just a story of Europe. Across the world, melting glaciers disrupt lives and ecosystems. These natural “water towers” sustain millions, yet their loss threatens water shortages, floods, and even political tensions. As the ice disappears, it forces us to rethink how connected we are—across borders, regions, and the planet itself. What could this mean for the futures? The retreat of glaciers isn’t just about rising temperatures. It’s about shifting landscapes, disappearing traditions, and global ripple effects. From water crises to cultural loss, these changes remind us of the deep connections that bind us and how much is at stake if we don’t act. 💭 Horizon Scanning-insight: Everything is more connected than it seems. Climate change isn’t just about heat—it’s about the cascading effects already impacting us in ways we often don’t see. Understanding these hidden connections helps us prepare for what’s ahead. Stay with us as we explore 12 futures signals in 12 days, sharing insights that hopefully provoke new reflections. #horizonscanning #climatechange #glaciers #futuresthinking

12 Days of Signals: Day 9 Can we really live forever, and at what cost? 💡 The Quest to Live Forever: As technological advances promise to extend life, the pursuit of immortality is gaining traction, particularly among the ultra-wealthy. But this raises profound questions about what we value in life—and what we’re willing to sacrifice. Take Bryan Johnson, a tech entrepreneur whose $4 million Blueprint program is designed to “reframe what it means to be human”. His strict regimen aims to reverse aging, with data-driven decisions dictating his diet, exercise, and even sleep patterns. While some scientists explore realistic ways to extend health spans, others question whether immortality is achievable—or even desirable. This isn’t just about one individual or a niche community; it’s a glimpse into broader societal implications. As life-extension technologies evolve, they may deepen inequalities, raise ethical dilemmas, and redefine our understanding of life itself. Are we moving toward a future where longevity is a privilege rather than a right? What could this mean for the futures? The dream of living forever forces us to confront the limits of human desire. If algorithms optimize our bodies, do they diminish the messy, joyful, and unpredictable experiences that define us? And as these technologies scale, who gets to decide how far we go? 💭 Horizon Scanning-insight: Not all signals of change are about what’s gained. Sometimes, they’re about what’s lost—or quietly transformed. In this case, the shift toward algorithm-driven life management may subtly reshape cultural values, as the pursuit of immortality overshadows the celebration of imperfection and shared mortality. Stay with us as we explore 12 futures signals in 12 days, uncovering ideas that inspire new paths forward. #horizonscanning #signals #futuresthinking #longevity

12 Days of Signals: Day 8 What happens when we lose spaces built for connection and expression? 💡 Murder of the Dancefloor: Nightclubs, once central to youth culture and social connection, are closing at an alarming rate—not just in the UK but worldwide. This isn’t just about nightlife; it’s about a broader shift in how and where we connect, celebrate, and create community. In the UK, the number of nightclubs has halved since 2013, driven by a mix of economic pressures, changing social habits, and shifting cultural values. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated closures, and rising costs have hit young people hardest, leaving many clubs struggling to survive. The trend is global. Urbanization, noise complaints, and rising rents have forced closures in cities like New York and Berlin. Meanwhile, a growing trend toward sobriety among younger generations is reshaping what people want from a night out, shifting the spotlight from large clubs to smaller, hybrid spaces like party bars and music cafes. What could this mean for the futures? Nightclubs have long been more than just places to dance—they’re hubs of creativity, subculture, and self-expression. Their decline raises questions about where we will gather and what kinds of spaces will emerge to fulfill the human need for connection. 💭 Horizon Scanning-insight: Declines can also be signals. Sometimes they’re easy to overlook, feeling slow or scattered rather than dramatic, but they can mark significant cultural shifts. The question is how we interpret these quieter changes—and what we build in their place. Stay with us as we explore 12 futures signals in 12 days, uncovering ideas that inspire new paths forward. #horizonscanning #signals #futuresthinking #nightlife

12 Days of Signals: Day 7 When do we have enough surveillance - and what is too much? 💡 Surveillance Creep: Surveillance technology, once limited to protecting physical spaces, is now deeply integrated into many parts of society. From schools to apps, these tools are increasingly repurposed beyond their original goals—a phenomenon known as "surveillance creep". From schools deploying cameras originally meant to guard against intruders to monitoring student behavior and teacher performance, to AI-powered systems that analyze emails, browsing habits, and even emotional states to flag issues like bullying or self-harm, to apps that track location data—surveillance is becoming a pervasive force. These tools can reveal where you are, what you do, and even who you meet, sometimes with little transparency or accountability. While marketed as solutions for safety, efficiency, or personalization, these tools raise critical ethical questions: Are we becoming desensitized to constant monitoring? Who decides how the data is used and interpreted? Can we trust that our data is secure, especially when it's bought and sold in massive markets? What could this mean for the futures? Surveillance creep highlights the need for clear cultural values and ethical standards. When small changes in how data is used go unchecked, they can create systems with far-reaching, often unintended consequences. 💭 Horizon Scanning-insight: The tools we create don’t just solve problems—they reshape how we live, think, and interact. Surveillance technologies may begin as neutral tools, but over time, they shape societal norms, power structures, and individual behaviors in profound ways. We must ask: Are we designing systems that serve us, or ones that subtly control us? Follow along for more signals as we share 12 futures signals in 12 days. #horizonscanning #signals #futuresthinking #surveillance

12 Days of Signals: Day 6 Should workplaces adapt to our biological rhythms? 💡 Lifephase Work Policies: Conversations around inclusive workplaces are expanding, and new policies are emerging to support employees through different life stages. From menstrual leave in Spain to menopause-friendly policies in Denmark, we’re seeing attempts to integrate the realities of human biology into modern work culture. Spain’s menstrual leave law, introduced in 2023, marked a historic shift, giving workers the right to up to five days of paid leave for severe menstrual pain. Yet adoption has been slow, highlighting challenges from stigma and fear of discrimination to low accessibility and cultural resistance. Some companies are taking innovative approaches as well. The Danish business Clever offer free menstrual products, flexible work hours, and even menopause resources to foster inclusivity. Instead of fixed leave policies, they promote adaptable solutions—like remote work or adjusted schedules—tailored to the individual. What could this mean for the futures? Lifephase policies challenge the outdated notion of the "ideal worker" as someone always available and unaffected by personal needs. They invite us to rethink workplace norms and embrace a more holistic understanding of productivity and well-being. 💭 Horizon Scanning-insight: Changing one part of a system can ripple through others in unexpected ways. While policies like menstrual leave can improve inclusion, they also risk reinforcing biases or stereotypes if implemented without care. And these ideas aren’t always new—Japan introduced menstrual leave in the 1940s, but its use declined due to stigma, showing how cultural factors shape success. As we continue 12 futures signals in 12 days, let’s explore how systems—not just workplaces—are adapting to better reflect human realities. #horizonscanning #signals #futuresthinking #inclusiveworkplaces

12 Days of Signals: Day 5 What if we measured success by happiness instead of wealth? 💡 Gross National Happiness: Bhutan’s pioneering Gross National Happiness (GNH) framework has long emphasized well-being over GDP. Now, Bhutan is evolving this model with “GNH 2.0,” focusing on economic resilience while staying true to its core values of sustainability, social progress, and environmental protection. Facing youth migration and economic challenges, Bhutan is balancing innovation with tradition. By reducing its daily fee to $100 per visitor, Bhutan aims to expand its high-value, low-volume tourism model, supporting jobs without compromising ecological preservation. Also, a goal is to create opportunities that retain young talent and strengthen local industries, ensuring growth aligns with well-being. What could this mean for the futures? Bhutan’s GNH 2.0 serves as a reminder that progress doesn’t have to come at the cost of people or the planet. By prioritizing balance over rapid growth, it offers a model for other nations to reimagine success and rethink economic systems. 💭 Horizon Scanning-insight: How we measure progress shapes what we value. Moving beyond GDP challenges us to ask bigger questions: What kind of futures do we want? Who decides what happiness means? And how do we build systems that deliver it? Stay with us as we explore 12 futures signals in 12 days, uncovering ideas that inspire new paths forward. #horizonscanning #signals #futuresthinking #happiness

12 Days of Signals: Day 4 Is plastic the villain—or the hero—of our climate story? 💡 In a Plastic World: Plastic is one of the most criticized materials of our time, but it might just hold the key to solving some of our biggest challenges. Scientists are now developing ways to create plastic from CO₂, turning a major climate culprit into a resource for innovation. Plastic has revolutionized industries—from healthcare to electronics to construction. Its lightweight, durable, and versatile nature has enabled much of the modern world. But the way we produce and use it has created enormous problems: 460 million tons of plastic are produced globally each year, with much of it ending up in landfills and the ocean. So, what’s next? Researchers are working on systems to make plastic from captured CO₂ and hydrogen, creating a circular system that could even be carbon negative. Imagine a future where plastic not only reduces waste but actively fights climate change. What does this mean for the future? It’s a call to rethink materials and their roles in sustainable development. Plastic isn’t inherently bad—it’s how we use and dispose of it that needs to change. With innovation, this maligned material could once again revolutionize society. 💭 Horizon Scanning-insight: The future is rarely as simple as banning a problem material. By asking better questions—how to reimagine plastic, rather than replace it—we can uncover unexpected pathways to solutions. Follow along as we explore 12 futures signals in 12 days, reshaping how we see our shared challenges. Happy New Year! #horizonscanning #signals #futuresthinking #sustainability

12 Days of Signals: Day 3 What does it mean to live on in the digital age? 💡 Digital Souls: As our lives become more digital, the idea of a "digital afterlife" is shifting from science fiction to reality. There are companies that offer tools to preserve your voice, memories, and even personality for loved ones to interact with after you’re gone. This future of “digital souls” raises profound questions: - Who owns and controls these digital legacies? - How might they alter the way we grieve and remember? - Could AI-curated identities challenge the authenticity of memory? These replicas of our lives are not us—they’re fragments of our expressions, shaped by technology and stored as data. While this offers comfort to some, it also forces us to confront ethical dilemmas about privacy, consent, and what it means to leave a legacy in a hyper-connected world. What does this mean for the future? The rise of digital souls challenges us to rethink how we approach mortality, memory, and identity. Will we create rituals for “retiring” digital selves? How do we ensure such technologies respect the wishes of the deceased and their loved ones? 💭 Horizon Scanning-insight: Digital afterlives remind us that trends often collide with cultural values in (often) unexpected ways. To navigate this space, we need to anticipate not just technological shifts, but their social and emotional impacts. Stay tuned as we explore 12 futures signals in 12 days, uncovering the frictions shaping our shared tomorrow. #horizonscanning #signals #futuresthinking #digitalsouls