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The Megatrends Hub

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Read about the 14 megatrends in our booklet.
  • Curated information structured around 14 Global Megatrends relevant for the future of Europe.
  • Knowledge to help you understand what the megatrends mean for a specific issue. 
  • Macro- and micro-trends, developments and forecasts, potential implications and foresight-related resources.
  • Two engagement tools to explore how they can affect your policy field.

Megatrends are defined as long-term driving forces that are observable now and will most likely have a global impact. They can help you identify probable and preferable futures. Use them to reflect on the future in a systemic way! 

Would you like to contribute to the Megatrends Hub? Check our Guidelines for contribution and contact us.

What is the Megatrends Hub and how to use it
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Accelerating technological change and hyperconnectivity

Technologies are changing the nature and speed of new scientific discoveries and are transforming systems of production, management, and governance.

Aggravating resource scarcity

Demand for water, food, energy, land and minerals are rising substantially, making natural resources increasingly scarce and more expensive.

Changing nature of work

New generations entering the workforce and older generations working longer are changing employment, career models, and organisational structures.

Changing security paradigm

Diversification of threats and actors is generating new challenges to the defence and security communities, as well as to society as a whole.

Climate change and environmental degradation

Continued unabated, anthropogenic pollution and greenhouse gas emissions will further increase changing climate patterns.

Continuing urbanisation

By 2050, the urban population could reach 9 billion. Cities are increasingly functioning autonomously, setting new social and economic standards.

Diversification of education and learning

New generations and hyperconnectivity are rapidly changing both educational needs and modes of delivery.

Diversifying inequalities

Absolute number of people living in extreme poverty has been declining. The gaps between the wealthiest and poorest of the population are widening.

Expanding influence of east and south

The shift of economic power from the established Western economies and Japan towards the emerging economies in the East and South is set to continue.

Growing consumption

By 2030, the consumer class is expected to reach 5 billion people. This means 2 billion more people with increased purchasing power than today.

Increasing demographic imbalances

World population will reach 9.7 billion by 2050, with rapid growth mainly in Sub-Saharan Africa and stagnating numbers of residents in a majority of developed countries.

Increasing influence of new governing systems

Non-state actors, global conscientiousness, social media and internationalisation of decision-making are forming new, multi-layered governing systems.

Increasing significance of migration

The social and political significance of migration has increased. Migration flows and dynamics have become more mixed in an interconnected world.

Shifting health challenges

Science and better living standards reduced infectious diseases. Unhealthy lifestyles, pollution, other anthropogenic causes turn into health burdens.

Megatrends Engagement Tools

Understand the interplay of the various megatrends and assessing their implications to domains or issues of your choice.

Megatrends interlinkages

How do different megatrends interact with each other? How can they impact future scenarios?

Latest on The Megatrends Hub from the KnowledgeBase

PUBLICATION | 07 Apr 2021
Security and geopolitics in a changing climate
Impact assessment of interlinkages between the megatrends: Changing security paradigm, Climate change and environmental degradation, Aggravating resource scarcity, Increasing significance of migration and Growing consumerism.
PAGE | 15 Jan 2021
Ageing societies in some regions
Developments · Demographic ageing is not a biological process. It’s a shift from a youthful society to a society with a higher share of senior citizens. The two main reasons for this is increasing...
PAGE | 15 Jan 2021
Increasing demographic imbalances
World population will reach 9.7 billion by 2050, with rapid growth mainly in Sub-Saharan Africa and stagnating numbers of residents in a majority of developed countries.
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