World Futures Day: Anticipation in an era of volatility
This World Futures Day event will bring together leading foresight experts from government, academia, international organisations and think tanks to explore how futures thinking and anticipatory governance can strengthen societal resilience in an age of disruption–marked by rapid technological change, climate pressures, demographic shifts, and heightened political, economic, and social volatility. Participants will exchange insights, good practices, and strategic visions for embedding futures-oriented approaches into public policy.
The event will open with remarks by UNESCO’s leadership, followed by a public lecture by Éric Sadin, the renowned philosopher and essayist. His lecture, entitled The future of humanity in an era of omniscient artificial intelligence will set the tone for the day and be followed by a moderated panel discussion with audience participation. This plenary session will be livestreamed and recorded.
In the afternoon, a series of interdisciplinary, interactive workshops will explore key themes such as shaping the futures of science, the ethics of emerging technologies (including AI, neurotechnology, and quantum computing), futures of international cooperation, and proactive crisis preparedness. These sessions will offer an opportunity to strengthen practical skills in futures and foresight methods.
Essential Information
- What: UNESCO World Futures Day
- Where: UNESCO Headquarters, 125 Avenue de Suffren, Paris 75007. France
- When: Tuesday 2 December 2025
- How: For information, please see the dedicated web page HERE
A provisional agenda can be found HERE