Barcelona Declaration On Time Policies
The Barcelona Declaration on Time Policies represents a significant advancement in urban governance and social policy.
The Declaration serves as a pioneering instrument in public policy, designed to elevate the discourse on time organization to international and urban political agendas. It promotes research and development of evidence-based time policies, fosters collaboration between institutions, cities, and nations on time-related initiatives, and encourages the integration of time considerations into urban planning and social policies.
An innovative declaration that unites diverse demands for time policies and frames the right to time holistically. It seeks to reshape our relationship with time, fostering a more balanced and fulfilling life for everyone.
A coalition of over 140 signatories from around the world committed to advancing time policies on a global scale, representing local and regional governments, the research community, social and economic stakeholders, and international organizations.
Endorsed by multidisciplinary stakeholders, including local and regional governments, researchers, social and economic actors, and international organizations. These diverse groups combine their expertise to effectively address time scarcity through comprehensive time policies.
Endorsing the Declaration is an ongoing, open process that involves two steps: first, express your interest by completing the form below. Second, sign the template letter we will send you to confirm your institution’s endorsement.
While its name pays homage to the city of its origin, the Declaration’s scope extends far beyond Barcelona’s borders, with organizations from across the globe embracing its principles. It commits signatory institutions to the implementation of innovative time policies aimed at enhancing citizen well-being and quality of life.
At its core, the Declaration recognizes the right to time as a new right for the 21st Century. It aims to develop strategies for equitable time distribution across diverse sectors and populations, while implementing innovative time policies that address modern challenges. By enhancing work-life balance through evidence-based policy interventions, the Declaration seeks to improve the overall quality of life for all using sustainability, equality, productivity, and health as core principles.
The Declaration's 10 Commitments
All signatories have agreed, within their areas of competence and capabilities, to commit to
Raising awareness, developing, and implementing time policies
that advance towards a healthier, more equal, more productive, and sustainable society, which guarantees the right to time as a fundamental right of all citizens and distributes it equitably.
Promoting dialogue and working with all relevant sectors within each area
—including public authorities, economic and social organizations, civil society, and academia— in the formulation, implementation, and evaluation of all policies, programmes, and initiatives; seeking consistency between them.
Encouraging interdepartmental and intersectoral coordination
at international, European, national, regional, municipal, and community levels, integrating time policy considerations into social, gender, economic, and environmental policies, programmes, and initiatives, including those related to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the European Green Deal, the European Social Pillar, and the “Future of Europe” process.
Participating in the development of the work plan established for the corresponding scope of work in the period 2024-2026
generating political consensus and making recommendations for a global time policy agenda and developing an urban time agenda.
Reviewing and modifying existing policies, plans, and regulations
to implement time policy recommendations in all responsible institutions and organizations, based on this consensus.
Promoting and supporting Time Use Week
as an annual, international, interdisciplinary, and inter-institutional event to advance time policies and share progress in time policies and research.
Continuing to collaborate to consolidate the Local and Regional Governments Time Network
as a dynamic network to share good practices on local and urban time policies, share recommendations and important demands, and improve the visibility of local and regional time policies and policy networks.
Promoting, conducting, and sharing relevant time-use research
from all fields to contribute to existing knowledge. For this reason, continuing to cooperate with IATUR (the International Association for Time Use Research) to find greater integration between research and time policies.
Facilitating debate between the scientific community and the responsible political personalities involved in the end of seasonal clock changes
establishing health and well-being as the primary criteria to guarantee individual freedom.
Encouraging other interested parties to join this Declaration
Signatories
International Association for Time Use Research (IATUR), Society for Research on Biological Rhythms (SRBR), European Biological Rhythms Society (EBRS), Temporal Belongings, German Society for Time, German Institute for Urban Affairs, Center for Metropolitan Studies – TU Berlin, German Academy for Urban Development and Regional Planning (DASL), Research consortium on Labour Standards (University of Hamburg), Better Times, Association for Ecological Economic Research (VÖW), Institute of Geography and Geoecology (IFGG, KIT), Münchner Forum, ARL-Academy for territorial developement in the Leibniz Association, Centre for Demographic Studies (CED), Barcelona Metropolitan and Regional Studies’ Institute (IEMRB), Sociological Research Centre on Everyday Life and Work (QUIT), : Time Sociology Research Committee from Spanish Sleep Federation, Centre for Time Use Research (UCL), Autonomy, Waiting Times Project, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research ,Centre of Advance Studies on Physiology and Economical and Social Politics Centre (UM). Workers´ Group of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), CCOO and UGT (the major trade union from Catalonia and Spain) and PIMEC (SME trade union from Catalonia) and Foment (major business Organisation), Fundación ANDI (Asociación Nacional de Empresarios de Colombia) / National Association of Business in Colombia , Catalan Government, Barcelona City Council, Barcelona’s Metropolitan Area, Catalan Provincial Area, Terrassa, Lleida, Girona , Ville de Rennes, Ville de Strasbourg, Métropole Européenne de Lille, Milano Metropolitan Area, Milano City Hall, Bolzano and Bergamo. Montevideo, Tempo Territorial (the French cities network for time policies), Catalan Federation of Municipalities and Catalan Association of Municipalities, Time Use Initiative (TUI), International Alliance for Natural Time (IANT), European Medical Association (EMA), LatinoAmerican Association for Bank Times , Arbeitszeitgesellschaft (Working Time Society), Aliamos GmbH, SowiTra (Science research and consulting institute based in Berlin), Evangelische Akademie Tutzing, Familienbund der Katholiken, Zentralkomitee der deutschen Katholiken (ZdK), Assotiation to Delay the Time (Verein zur Verzögerung der Zeit) ,Take back your time and Save Standard Time , Bank Time (Asociación para el Desarrollo de los Bancos de Tiempo), Spanish Commission for Rationalisation of Schedules (AHROE) , B-Society , Bank Time -Association Salud y Familia, Women of Europe Studies Center. Bank Time – Associazione Nazionale Banche del Tempo, Bank Time – Graal-associação Social E Cultural, Belgische vereniging tegen het Zomeruur / Associacion Belge Pour une Heure Naturelle Stable (Belgian Association for Stable Natural Time), Platform Betere Tijden – Gezonder leven in je eigen ritme (Better Times Platform – For healthier living at your own rhythm, Bank Time – Fundación Esquel, Corporación Contigo Colombia, Área Metropolitana del Valle de Aburrá, Legislatura de la Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Municipalidad de Córdoba, The Human Imagination Project, Copolis. Grup de Recerca en Sociologia (UB)
