The recent Megatrends 2023 report lists five key directions of change. At the center of everything is the crumbling of nature’s carrying capacity, which also affects other megatrends.
Looking to the future, Sitra declared in its megatrend analysis three years ago that we are moving into a post-normal time of surprises. And they were also obtained when Corona surprised the whole world and Russia was already booming then.
Now Sitra publishes its latest megatrends 2023 report.
According to Vataja, megatrends describe changes that have already happened and are ongoing. They don’t have to be inevitable developments.
– In this moment, it is important to identify ways to influence the future in such a way that it would be as desired.
In the accompanying video, Katri Vataja talks about the interdependence between megatrends.
Five megatrends
Sitra has named five major megatrends to provide a framework for future changes:
According to Sitra, the most important of the megatrends is nature.
– The crumbling of nature’s carrying capacity is at the center of all challenges. It affects all other megatrends and how people and nature will fare in the future, Vataja clarifies.
Sitra listed largely the same type of megatrends three years ago, but now their tone is darker than back then.
– When describing megatrends, the tonal difference can be more negative compared to before. In the report, we describe changes that are underway and separately desired positive opportunities that have not yet occurred, but are possible to achieve.
Interdependence is highlighted
Vataja names the growth of interdependence as a big change from before.
– Now the interdependence between these megatrends is emphasized even more. It is not new that we live in an interdependent world and things affect each other. If you think about what has become very concretely visible during the pandemic and, in addition, Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, for example they have strengthened the interdependence of certain phenomena and it is also visible in our megatrends.
According to Vataja, everyone can take advantage of megatrends to strengthen and expand their own thinking about the future.
– It is important to pay attention to the overall picture of the changes. You can look at them as a whole, but you can also take a megatrend and think about what it means in your own life, everyday life or work life. You can also think about what it means to others and what kind of effects it has on different people or actors.
You can learn more about Sitra’s Megatrends 2023 report via the attached link.