Predictions - Events to Take place in 2022

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2021 was yet another unprecedented year. We don't know exactly how 2022 will be, but here are some events to look out for in the coming year:

1. Developments of new and improved COVID-19 vaccines.

COVID-19 vaccines were developed very quickly in 2021, but the pace of vaccine development will increase even more in the following year. There have been reports that future vaccines will be able to target several variants of the virus at the same time.

Protein-based vaccines are expected to be available in 2022, which could increase vaccination rates in poorer countries due to their lower cost of production and storage. Many have been waiting for these types of vaccines to be approved, as the technology is more well-established compared to the mRNA and vector-based vaccines we currently have.

2. An increased emphasis on mental health from employers.

Burnout and stress have been on the rise since the beginning of the pandemic, as a result of change in work commitments and life responsibilities. The pandemic has led many individuals to reconsider what they value in a job. Many employees have considered leaving companies where they do not feel like they are appreciated. This mass exodus has been dubbed the Great Resignation.

The employers have grown more aware of this issue and have to make changes for the sake of their employees’ mental health. In 2022, workplaces have pledged to invest more in offering resources and providing mental-health-focused benefits, including subsidized mental wellness and therapy services, mental health training in the workplace, and mentorship.

3. Norway recently passed regulations targeting edited images. The legislation will now require social media influencers and advertisers to include disclaimers on posts that have been retouched with photo-editing software.

Why was this law passed?

The design of social media inherently amplifies insecurities about self-image, as people are led to compare their everyday selves with carefully-cultivated profiles of others. The usage of filters and photo-editing software only emphasizes these unrealistic beauty standards. The law is intended to alleviate this issue, by “[raising] awareness among people that the perfect bodies in advertisements do not show people as they appear in real life,” according to the Norwegian Ministry of Children and Families.

The regulations will go into effect in July 2022. Fines will be imposed on those who violate the law.

4. A more urgent approach towards environmental preservation.

Climate change, loss of biodiversity and pollution have affected not only the “global economy, but also the social well-being”.

The Medium Term Strategy has put forward the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) role in delivering everything in the 2030 Agenda. The 2030 Agenda has 17 goals for environmental sustainability.

The strategy outlines how UNEP will strengthen the environmental dimension of the 2030 Agenda during the years 2022-2025. Countries will also be supported by UNEP in order for them to deliver their environmental commitments under international agreements.

5. In India, single-use plastic items will be banned as of July 1, 2022. Plastic items with a thickness less than 100 microns like cups, plates, wrapping film, cards, packets, and plastic cutlery will be strictly prohibited.

The announcement comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced in 2018 that by 2022, India will eliminate all single-use plastic items.

“Pollution due to single-use plastic items has become an important environmental challenge confronting all countries,” India’s Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change stated.

The states and Union Territories of India have been asked by the government to create an action plan so that single-use plastic can be eliminated. The government has organized a two-month-long awareness campaign regarding single-use plastic which will bring about a positive environmental impact.

India’s decision to ban single-use plastic items highlights the dire effects they can have on the environment. This may lead to other countries to follow suit in the near future.

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Published January 3, 2022

Written by Anushka ~ Edited by Sasha Thomas and Alex Truong ~ Graphics by Fiona Xu