2021 was a chaotic year to say the least, and many have made it their aim to hit the ground running as 2022 kicks off. Global pandemic, new climate accords, and the rise of several new world leaders were the major markers of 2021, but what major events still lie in store for 2022?
1. Queen Elizabeth Celebrates Her Platinum Jubilee
Perhaps the most enduring public figure of many of our lifetimes, it can be pretty hard to imagine a time when Queen Elizabeth II wasn’t the occupant of the British throne. 2022 is the next milestone in the monarch’s long reign, marking 70 years as head of state and head of the Church of England.
This is Queen Elizabeth’s first jubilee without her beloved husband, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, who died of old age in April 2021, just two months shy of his 100th birthday. While Prince Philip was the longest serving royal consort in history, Queen Elizabeth has yet to earn the title of longest serving monarch. To earn that, she will need to reign longer than 72 years and 110 days, to beat out Louis XIV of France, also known as the Sun King. However, she is the longest reigning current monarch, and longest serving female head of state - so Her Majesty is in no shortage of prestige.
Queen Elizabeth II is the first British monarch to celebrate a platinum jubilee, and the occasion will be marked by celebrations across the UK and Commonwealth throughout the year, culminating in a four-day-long bank holiday in June.
2. FIFA World Cup In Qatar
A highlight that billions around the globe look forward to every four years, the FIFA World Cup is set to take place in Qatar throughout November and December of 2022. However, the love and enthusiasm for the tournament has been dampened by years of allegations of abusive labour practises, corruption, and the deaths of workers due to unsafe conditions.
It is believed over 6,500 migrant workers have died in construction since it was first announced a decade ago that Qatar would play host in 2022 - many of these deaths are understood to have been related to infrastructure projects for the World Cup.
While the tournament lies almost a year ahead, pundits are never shy on placing their early bets. Current favourites are thought to be France and Brazil, followed by England. After years of major sporting events being subdued due to the Coronavirus pandemic, many are hoping for the World Cup to present a return to normality as we hopefully exit the pandemic.
3. French Presidential Election
The time comes yet again in 2022 for the people of France to elect their president for the upcoming government. The French elections can often prove to be an unpredictable affair, but the current expectation is for the reelection of the current president, Emmanuel Macron.
This election is important not only for France but for the EU and the wider world as a whole.
4. The Launch Of Space Tourism
Since the dawn of space exploration, the idea of visiting space for fun has been a dream of many. Nowadays, in 2022, that dream is on the cusp of becoming a reality. As commercial projects Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic have both successfully made suborbital flights.
Both of these commercial ventures are hoping to generate real traction in 2022, and reportedly over 700 people have already bought tickets to ride with Virgin Galactic. Of course, this adventure is an experience reserved for only the richest and most privileged in society, with each ticket costing around half a million US dollars for a 2-3 hour flight.
5. The Rise Of Hybrid Working
Over the past few years, the average person’s work life has changed drastically. From full-time in the office five days a week, to a world of home office, virtual meetings, and remote placements becoming the norm. But 2022 is expected to bring with it even further changes.
Observers and researchers predict that 2022 will see the rise of “hybrid working”, a new format of work that blends traditional office life with this new era of remote connectivity. This year, more and more of the workforce can expect to see themselves divide their weeks between in-person and at-home work, heralding in a new era of work that is set to last moving forward.
There are further buzzwords that may come to define the future to come - think “endemic”, “crypto”, and “endemic” - but only time will tell what these worlds will look like. Like every year, 2022 is set to bring with it surprises and unforeseen challenges, but these events will are set to be major cornerstones of the months to come.
