Global Trends 2030 - Citizens in an Interconnected and Polycentric World - Washington, D.C launch

The EUISS report 'Global Trends 2030: Citizens in an Interconnected and Polycentric World' was launched in Washington, D.C on 9 May 2012 in partnership with the Atlantic Council. Following a welcome by Banning Garrett, Director of Strategic Foresight Initiative at the Atlantic Council, an introduction was made by H.E Ambassador João Vale de Almeida, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to the United States. The report was then presented by James Elles MEP and EUISS Director Álvaro de Vasconcelos.

The three major global trends shaping the future were said to be: 

1) The growing empowerment of individuals, contributing to a sense of belonging to a single human community;  

2) A greater stress on sustainable development against a backdrop of greater resource scarcity and persistent poverty, compounded by the consequences of climate change;  

3) The emergence of a more polycentric world characterised by a shift of power away from states, and growing governance gaps as the mechanisms for inter-state relations fail to respond adequately to global public demands. 

Comments were then offered on the report by Mathew J Burrows, Counselor, US National Intelligence Council. A debate between the participants on global trends and strategic thinking then followed.