4 June 2024
Climate crusades, shifting demographics, crisis calls and the digital frontier: the urgent ‘act now’ trends identified in new PIA Foresight Report
The Planning Institute of Australia, in partnership with Urbis, has launched a major new thought leadership report, PIA Foresight, which identifies the key trends that will impact Australia’s future.
This comprehensive report identifies the major trends that will shape Australian communities, and it provides a critical tool to support urban and regional planners in their work planning for the great places over the long-term.
The report identifies and explains 55 trends, and these are broken down into three timelines that represent the scale of urgency and uncertainty driving how we respond: The Urgent Trends: Act Now; The Preparatory Trends: Build Resilience; and The Monitoring Trends: Observe and Learn.
The Urgent Trends: Act Now identifies those trends with the most significant societal, technological, environmental, economic and political shifts. These include:
- Climate crusades, with the need to build sustainable cities, navigate risks and ensure resilience
- Shifting demographics, requiring embracing diversity in single-person living, ageing populations and diverse dwellings
- Crisis calls, tackling housing affordability, urban exodus and infrastructure challenges
- Electrifying efficiency, navigating electric vehicles, sustainable transport and infrastructure innovations
- Digital frontier, understanding digital twins, data integration and AI ascendancy
PIA Foresight dissects each trend with expert insights from the planning profession and focusses on opportunities that are associated with the trends or how to mitigate risk. The report also investigates the trends that are not yet fully understood but require proactive preparation and planning to ensure the profession is equipped to deliver the best outcomes for our cities and regions.
"Planners are all about working with communities to navigate and shape long-term change, and this report is designed to help all of us understand the major trends that are over the horizon so we can better plan for more sustainable and liveable futures," said Matt Collins MPIA, CEO of the Planning Institute of Australia.
James White MPIA, who led the creation of the PIA Foresight report at Urbis, said, "With the PIA Foresight Report, we have a comprehensive roadmap to guide our profession and prepare for the future. Addressing these trends head-on will allow us to create thriving, adaptable and future-ready communities. This is not just about predicting the future, but actively shaping it for the betterment of all Australians.”
PIA Foresight can be accessed here: /documents/item/12967
While authored with the planning profession in mind, the report’s insights go beyond the profession. Considering planners play a critical role in the shaping of resilience, sustainable and responsive communities; PIA Foresight will play a role in shaping advocacy focusses, industry priorities, and benchmarks for the profession in the coming decade.
About the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA)
The Planning Institute of Australia is the national body representing the planning profession, dedicated to advancing planning and supporting the professional development of planners.
About Urbis
Urbis has one simple goal – to shape cities and communities for a better future. It’s something that’s achieved by drawing together a network of the brightest minds.
For further information, please contact:
Matt Collins MPIA,
Chief Executive Officer,
Planning Institute Australia
(0437 938 077)