Representatives of the UNESCO Chair at Daugavpils University, Chairholder Professor Ilga Salīte and researcher Liene Briede, participated in World Futures Day 2025, held on 2 December at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. This year’s event, themed “Anticipation in an Era of Volatility,” brought together participants from around the world to explore how futures literacy and foresight can strengthen societies’ capacity to anticipate and navigate global challenges.

The discussions focused on responding to increasing uncertainty driven by technological transformation, climate change, demographic shifts, and geopolitical instability. Through plenary sessions and interactive exchanges, participants examined the role of anticipatory practices in supporting more resilient, responsible, and inclusive futures.

In addition to the main event, a standalone futures workshop titled “Anticipation and Responsible Futures” was held on 3 December. The workshop was facilitated by members of the UNESCO Chairs on Futures Literacy, Foresight and Anticipation Network and provided participants with an opportunity to engage more deeply with futures-oriented approaches, methodologies, and practical applications.

Throughout the event, particular emphasis was placed on the importance of the global network of more than 1,100 university-based UNESCO Chairs, including 35 UNESCO Chairs in Futures Studies. This network was highlighted as a strategic system of knowledge hubs and early-detection capacities for identifying and analysing emerging issues across diverse fields, regions, and disciplines, thereby strengthening UNESCO’s global capacity in futures literacy and foresight.