The Prominent Trends of 2024
Forbes magazine has recently released a list of 15 prominent global trends for the year 2024, encompassing trends in politics, economics, the environment, technology, and more.
From a political standpoint, the dynamic trend of 2024 is expected to stem from elections, as this marks a crucial period for elections in many countries. According to Forbes experts, as we enter 2024, the world is gearing up for the most significant election year in history, with 40 national elections scheduled to take place. This political whirlwind will impact 41% of the global population and 42% of the GDP, influencing the global order. Particularly in some countries like the US, UK, South Africa, Indonesia, India, Mexico, and Russia, these elections could bring about significant changes.
In terms of technology, artificial intelligence (AI) has sparked a global revolution in 2023 and will continue to have a significant impact in 2024. According to Bill Gates, the shift from 'bots' to 'agents' will be the biggest revolution in computing since we transitioned from typing commands to clicking icons, and 2024 could be the year of commercializing individual 'agents.' Personal agents are intelligent computer programs, likened to 'your own James Bond 007 agent,' capable of understanding natural language and performing complex tasks without significant user intervention.
Moreover, technological trends in the office sector are expected to have a significant impact on office real estate. For instance, Generative AI technology is enhancing both physical and virtual meeting spaces. Teleconferencing will evolve with real-time analytics, creating AI-controlled group meeting rooms and whiteboards, turning notes into action items. By 2024, virtual meetings will become immersive experiences supported by AI, transforming traditional meeting rooms into flexible spaces. However, experts also suggest that this technology will significantly affect office real estate, with office property values expected to decrease by 35% by the end of 2025 and record-high vacancy rates globally. This could lead to a commercial real estate financial crisis...
Green Energy - A Turning Point for Development
Notably among the global trends of 2024, according to forecasts by experts, the field of green energy will mark a turning point for sustainable development.
A prominent achievement of 2023 is the global increase in the adoption of renewable energy. Last year, we witnessed a significant rise in the installation of solar energy systems and the purchase of electric vehicles. The prices of solar panels, heat pumps at both industrial and household levels, as well as wind energy, have all decreased. This has raised hopes for stronger adoption of clean energy in the new year.
Renewable energy is predicted to make a breakthrough in 2024
The "euronews" also provides many examples showing optimistic signals regarding green energy and the environment. Particularly noteworthy is the encouraging outcome from the United Nations Climate Summit COP28, held in late November 2023 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. For the first time in three decades of COP summits, nations agreed to coordinate efforts to reduce the use of oil, gas, and coal, which constitute 80% of global energy. COP28 also called for tripling global renewable energy capacity by 2030, accelerating efforts to reduce coal consumption, and advancing technologies such as carbon capture and storage.
Environmental activities have also achieved many accomplishments globally. A piece of good news, according to Forbes, is that deforestation in the Amazon rainforest - the planet's lungs - decreased by 22% in 2023. Efforts to curb deforestation not only help preserve biodiversity but also play a crucial role in mitigating climate change by conserving natural carbon sinks and maintaining ecological balance. Indigenous communities have won the right to protect 225 thousand acres of forest land from mining activities in the Western United States. Both initiatives significantly benefit the climate as forests play a crucial role in absorbing CO2 and maintaining global carbon levels.
With the positive signals mentioned above, 2024 is considered a turning point for the global transition to clean energy, achieving environmental protection goals. The increasing adoption of renewable energy plays the role of a "beacon of hope," demonstrating the world's commitment to a sustainable future. While challenges remain in ensuring a fair and equitable transition, the rapid growth of renewable energy provides compelling evidence of a sustainable future within reach.
Duy Nguyen, compiled from Ha Noi Moi