We enter 2025 with renewed enthusiasm and a horizon full of possibilities for the right to time. The year 2024 has been a year of several steps forward that fill us with hope and energy to move forward.
We have achieved milestones that, until recently, seemed distant: more than 200 global organisations have joined the Barcelona Declaration for Time Policies, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has included time policies as a central topic in its 2025 main conference. , the consolidation of the Local and Regional Governments Time Network; the presentation of more than 50 innovative good practices on time on 2 new topics’ best practises: time policies and democracy and nighttime policies (Local and Regional Time Agenda 3&4)., shows the good shape of this network. Additionally, the work of the Time Use Initiative has been internationally recognised for promoting innovative public policies with the Edge of Government award and the UK Corporate LiveWire Innovation & Excellence Award.
The Time Use Week broke participation records and opened up to new audiences, and a pioneer International visitors programme took place to learn on the good practices on time policies implemented in Catalonia. In June, the first Summer School of Time (online and in Barcelona) demonstrated the great interest of participants from all around the World in time policies.
In Europe, members from all the groups of the European Parliament endorsed the Manifesto “Tick-tock Europe: Championing for the right to time” to commit to implementing specific actions to guarantee the right to time for European citizens. As a result of this commitment, we have held the first meeting with MEPs at the European Parliament in Strasbourg and created a specific working group on time policies. Besides, the city of Strasbourg has been a splendid World Capital of Time. Additionally, due to the good work, the Local and Regional Governments Time Network has been awarded a new project from the European Commission to bring time policies to more towns and cities.
In Spain, the working time reduction to 37.5 hours, proposed by the Time Use Initiative, is closer to becoming a reality. After the government and unions signed an agreement, this will be the initial step to promote the rationalization of schedules and to advance towards the approval of the pioneering Time Use Law, as stated in the Government agreement.
Catalonia continues to be a global beacon in this area. The collaboration agreements have been renewed and joint strategies to advance the right to time with the main Catalan institutions. Indeed, this year innovative tools have been published, such as the Guide for the implementation of a local time organisation plan of the Barcelona Provincial Council or the Guides with good practices for companies by the Barcelona Metropolitan Area.
For 2025, our commitment is stronger than ever to continue prioritising the right to time for well-being and equality around the world.
Our goals for this year:
- Continue to strengthen and collaborate with the local level, to implement and share projects that generate real positive impact in people’s daily time,
- Advance the implementation of specific measures to reduce and rationalise working time, as a key element for a more balance and sustainable life,
- Strengthen links with local and international organisations to make the right to time tangible throughout the World, and
- Achieve a definitive date to eliminate bi-annual clock change.
To start this year, we already have good news: Bogotá (Colombia) has been chosen as the World Capital of Time Policies, being the first Latin-American city to achieve it, and the new wave of time use surveys will provide more data on time use worldwide
As Jorge Luis Borges said, “Time is the substance of which I am made”; time is essential, and we are convinced that every step we take brings us closer to an equal, healthier, more efficient, and sustainable society.
We are counting on all of you to do it. Together we will make it possible!
