GLOBAL INSIGHTS: LEADING THE CHANGE
The United Nations has declared 2025 as the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ). This global initiative aims to celebrate the contributions of quantum science over the past century and to raise awareness of its significance in sustainable development and technological innovation.
The year 2025 marks the 100th anniversary of the development of quantum mechanics, a pivotal moment in physics that has led to numerous technological advancements. Throughout the year, various events and programs will be organized worldwide to educate the public about quantum science and its applications.
The IYQ initiative also seeks to inspire the next generation of scientists and innovators by highlighting the role of quantum science in addressing global challenges, including those outlined in the U.N.'s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
The Economist predicts that breakthroughs in science as fusion power are imminent. The pursuit of nuclear fusion—a potential source of limitless clean energy—is entering a pivotal phase. By late 2025, Commonwealth Fusion Systems, an MIT spin-off, plans to unveil SPARC, a near-commercial fusion reactor capable of generating 140 MW. If successful, SPARC could achieve a key milestone: producing more energy than it consumes by early 2026.
In contrast, ITER, the international fusion project in France, continues to face setbacks. Initially scheduled for completion in 2025, it is now delayed by nine years and isn’t expected to reach energy breakeven until 2039.
Meanwhile, private-sector innovation is gaining momentum, with over $7 billion invested in more than 40 fusion startups. While SPARC relies on the tokamak design, competitors like Canada’s General Fusion and Washington state-based Helion and Zap Energy are pursuing alternative approaches that promise quicker results.
With private enterprises leading the charge, the long-anticipated vision of fusion as a source of abundant, clean energy appears more achievable than ever.
Read The Economist “Fusion power is getting closer — no, really”
Energy Trends in 2025
Global energy consumption is projected to rise by 2% to 14.5 trillion tonnes of oil equivalent by 2025, with fossil fuels supplying over 80%, driving carbon emissions 1.7 times higher than 1990 levels. While coal use will decline in Europe and North America, India and Russia will maintain significant consumption, and China's coal usage will approach its peak. Oil demand will increase, with OPEC+ controlling output to stabilize Brent prices at $77 per barrel, even as non-OPEC production grows.
Renewable energy will expand, comprising 14% of global supply, with wind and solar generating one-sixth of electricity. Notable projects include a solar farm in Gujarat providing 4% of India's power, solar mini-grids in Zambia, and Texas’ first grid-connected geothermal plant. Nuclear energy will also grow, with new reactors coming online in China, India, South Korea, and Turkey, raising the global total to 447.
Read “Ten business trends for 2025, and forecasts for 15 industries”
GREEN SKILLS
Every Skill is Destined to be a Green Skill
In December 2024, the World Economic Forum introduced “A Four-Step Plan to Close the Global Green Skills Gap”, emphasizing the critical need to address the shortage of green skills essential for meeting global climate targets. To bridge this gap, a four-step action plan proposed:
• Build public-sector capacity and internal training policies to develop national green skills plans to map out the quantity and types of skills needed for green initiatives, ensuring that no regions are left behind. This includes allocating funding to education and retraining programs.
• Develop coherent policies within sectors implementing social and financial mechanisms that support lifelong learning, including social protections that enable workers to undertake training for green jobs when transitioning from previous occupations. It's also crucial to ensure that more women gain green skills, addressing the current gender disparity in the green talent pool.
• Create green skills education programmes for young people to address the dissatisfaction among younger generations regarding the standard of sustainability education by providing targeted training for those entering the workforce.
• Offer support for people displaced by the green transition to ensure that workers displaced from carbon-intensive industries are equipped with the necessary skills to transition into green jobs, preventing socioeconomic inequities. In the United States, the green energy transition is expected to impact 1.7 million workers in the fossil fuel industry.
Implementing these strategies requires collaboration among governments, businesses, and education providers to effectively close the green skills gap and facilitate a successful transition to a net-zero economy.
Read “A Four-Step Plan to Close the Global Green Skills Gap”
The Green Skills and Green Jobs Youth Consultation Report, released by SOS-International and the UN Environment Programme (2024), highlights the critical role of youth in leading the global green transition. Conducted as part of the Green Jobs for Youth Pact, the consultation engaged 1,108 young participants from 56 countries, capturing diverse perspectives and bold ambitions for a sustainable future.
Regional Highlights:
• Africa: Advocates for aligning education with local green job markets.
• Asia: Stresses innovation, adaptability, and long-term sustainability.
• Europe: Raises concerns about financial barriers to prioritizing green jobs.
• North America: Highlights the integration of sustainability into all professions.
• South America: Calls for inclusivity and closing gender gaps in green industries.
Key Initiative Announced:
The International Green Learning & Skills Accelerator (IGLSA) aims to:
• Create 1 million new green jobs.
• Transform 1 million existing roles into sustainable positions.
• Empower 10,000 young entrepreneurs to launch eco-friendly businesses.
Read the Green Skills and Green Jobs Youth Consultation Report
Skills Development Update
• Generative AI is projected to impact 30-50% of tasks across industries by 2030, driving a decline in manual skills while boosting demand for socio-emotional and adaptive skills by 25%. Investments in digital literacy and upskilling are vital to prepare workers for this shift. AI will create 10 million new STEM-related jobs globally by 2035, with Europe needing to retrain 5 million workers annually to stay competitive. These findings emphasize the urgency of fostering lifelong learning and innovative partnerships to build resilience in the AI-driven economy.
Read “The skills revolution and the future of learning and earning”
The Economist's Green-Skills Barometer: A New Blueprint for Sustainable Urban Leadership
As global cities grapple with the challenges of climate change and sustainability, The Economist Impact introduces a Green-Skills Barometer, offering a fresh lens to evaluate business leaders' perceptions across three pivotal pillars: Environmental Awareness, Leadership Readiness, and the Employee Imperative. This insightful solution highlights how urban centers are becoming engines of green transformation, driven by their unique dynamics in fostering sustainable ecosystems.
Environmental Awareness: Cities at the Forefront of Change
Environmental Awareness captures how external forces like regulatory frameworks and societal demands influence green-skills adoption. Cities like Sydney and Singapore shine with progressive initiatives such as renewable energy policies and innovative water conservation strategies. However, not all cities keep pace—Tokyo, for instance, struggles with clean-energy integration, signaling the need for broader systemic changes.
Leadership Readiness: The Power of Visionary Leadership
Green transformation thrives on top-level commitment. While 86% of surveyed executives acknowledge the reputational benefits of green skills, tangible progress often falters due to weak management support and lack of strategic focus. Cities such as Berlin and Singapore stand out, showcasing how government-business collaboration can create fertile ground for leadership-driven green innovation.
The Employee Imperative: Tomorrow’s Workforce, Today
Green skills are no longer optional but essential. Nearly 96% of executives foresee their importance surging within five years. Yet, only 2.7% feel their organizations are adequately prepared. Competing demands for digital and analytical skills often overshadow green-skills investment, leaving gaps in workforce readiness.
This Green-Skills Barometer is more than a measurement tool; it’s a call to action. Urban centers hold the potential to accelerate the global shift toward sustainability by fostering ecosystems where green skills thrive. From leadership commitment to workforce training, the journey toward a greener future demands innovation, collaboration, and relentless focus.
Young Leaders Proving One Person Can Drive Change
Indigenous Youth Pioneering Canada's Green Energy Future
The Wah-ila-toos Indigenous Council in Canada has unveiled Kinship and Prosperity: Proven Solutions for a Clean Energy Landscape, a groundbreaking report emphasizing the vital role of Indigenous youth in Canada's renewable energy transition. This initiative is part of a $300 million project aimed at reducing diesel reliance in rural, remote, and Indigenous communities. Since 2022, over $97 million has been invested in various projects across Canada through Wah-ila-toos, focusing on cleaner energy sources.
This movement presents Indigenous youth with unprecedented opportunities to lead in sustainable energy, fostering a future that honors cultural heritage while embracing innovation.
Another initiative also becomes very influencial Indigenous Clean Energy (ICE) is a Canadian not-for-profit organization driving Indigenous-led capacity building and collaboration in the clean energy transition. ICE empowers Indigenous leadership while fostering partnerships with communities, energy companies, governments, cleantech innovators, academia, and investors to create sustainable energy solutions and advance a just energy transition across Canada.
Ratu Mataira: Founder of OpenStar, a New Zealand-based startup, Ratu has achieved a milestone in nuclear fusion by creating and containing plasma at approximately 300,000 degrees Celsius for 20 seconds. His innovative approach utilizes a levitating high-temperature superconducting magnet within the plasma, potentially accelerating the commercialization of fusion technology.
Nuclear fusion start-up claims milestone with unconventional reactor
James Walker: Leading NANO Nuclear Energy, a startup valued at around $700 million, James focuses on developing small modular reactors to provide clean energy solutions. His work addresses the growing energy demands of AI data centers and aims to make nuclear energy more accessible and sustainable.
Why Nuclear Energy Is Crucial for AI, According to the CEO of a $700 Million Startup
Jeremiah Thoronka: At 17, Jeremiah developed a device that harnesses kinetic energy from pedestrian and vehicular movement to generate electricity. His startup, Optim Energy, has provided power to over 10,000 people, including 150 homes and 15 schools, without relying on external power sources.
MUST-READS FOR INSPIRATION: BOOKS IN 2024
Not the End: Why You Could Be the First Generation to Save the Planet
Tired of hearing it’s “too late”? Hannah Ritchie’s Not the End of the World flips the script. This isn’t another doomsday sermon—it’s your roadmap to action. We can build a sustainable future, and guess what? You’re at the center of it.
Ritchie, one of the world’s brightest sustainability scientists, drops hard facts, hope, and the ultimate challenge: Be the generation that proves progress is possible. Climate change is real, but despair is optional.
This book isn’t about saving the world someday—it’s about starting today. Because the future isn’t written yet, and it’s definitely Not the End of the World.
Ready to rewrite the story? Let’s get building.
From Stone to Silicon: How Networks Shaped Humanity
Imagine this: cavemen sharing stories by firelight, medieval traders spreading news on silk roads, and today's AI algorithms feeding you the latest trends in seconds. In “Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI”, Yuval Noah Harari takes us on a mind-blowing journey through time to uncover how humans built information networks—the invisible threads that connect people, ideas, and power.
From cave paintings to printing presses, and now AI-driven newsfeeds, Harari explores how each breakthrough made us smarter, faster, and sometimes more vulnerable. How did networks shape wars, empires, and social movements? And how will today's digital age—and the power of Big Tech—determine what we know and who controls the truth?
This book is your guide to understanding the epic story of connection. It’s about the past, but it’s also about you, living in the most connected moment in human history.
The question is: who’s pulling the strings, and what’s next?
