2024 has been a game-changing year

In this end-of-year message, our directors Elizabeth Dirth and Jakob Hafele, look back on the changes of 2024 and ahead to the challenges of 2025.

This year, elections took place in 64 countries around the world ushering in changed global geopolitical dynamics. At home we saw the beginning of a new institutional cycle in the EU, a fresh set of EU Commissioners, and updated political priorities for the next five years.  

At ZOE Institute we are looking ahead to 2025 with both optimism and trepidation. 

Opportunities and risks

It is exciting to think about a new term of the EU institutions, and the possibility that a Clean Industrial Deal can power implementation of a just, green transition; or how a reinforced culture of preparedness can help Europe better deal with complex 21st Century challenges; or how the next EU budget can channels funds to projects that have meaningful impact on people's lives. 

Yet, this excitement is mixed with trepidation about increasing polarisation – both in politics and in populations. We are witnessing rising political division and rising disparity in the wellbeing of people across Europe. We are concerned about the normalisation of extreme views that are contradictory to European values, and the shrinking space for civil society.  

We see risks that some of the major achievements of the last five-year institutional cycle – policies that have been crafted over decades and which provides certainty about the direction of travel for businesses, residents and regional institutions – will be swept away for the sake of political compromises. 

Shrinking space for new ideas

Most importantly, we're concerned about the space for new ideas. 

As an independent, non-profit, think and do tank, we pursue rigorous and creative solutions to societal challenges. We operate and thrive in the space between policy, politics and progress. And that space is under threat. 

It is under threat because the challenges we face are becoming ever-more complex and uncertain. 

It is also under threat because progress on something like a just, green transition cannot be measured easily. It cannot simply be reduced to CO2 emissions, or Euros earmarked for green or digital investments. It requires a long-term approach which is hard to reconcile with elections cycles or annual project plans. 

It is under threat because the deep, patient, creative, systemic work to reimagine our economy in the face of 21st Century crises takes time and resources that we don't have. 

At ZOE we are looking ahead to a number of exciting projects in 2025, including:  

• a toolbox for identifying policies to redirect financial flows towards green investments
• work on the detailed design of a Clean Industrial Deal that benefits all countries and regions
• an intergenerational fairness Town Hall event to shape the European Commission's upcoming strategy
• building consensus and momentum for Beyond GDP metrics and approaches through the WISE-Horizons, MERGE, and MAPS projects.

The time and space to develop these timely, solutions-focused, future-fit projects is made possible by support from our community. 

Please consider a donation to ZOE Institute as an investment in hope for new ideas in 2025.