The near-future date of 2028 often appears in scientific projections, international policy timelines, and ambitious engineering schedules. Examining this year allows us to define expectations based on current scientific modeling, scheduled events, and ongoing global trends. Many government and corporate planning cycles use this timeframe to set short-term targets, making 2028 an inflection point for assessing progress toward larger decade-long goals.
Asteroid Apophis and Solar Activity
2028 serves as the preparatory stage for the close flyby of the large near-Earth asteroid 99942 Apophis in 2029. Although Apophis poses no impact threat, 2028 is the scheduled launch window for dedicated monitoring missions. The European Space Agency (ESA) plans to launch the RAMSES spacecraft in April 2028, aiming for arrival in February 2029. This timing allows the probe to observe the asteroid before and after it is gravitationally influenced by Earth during its pass.
NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft, renamed OSIRIS-APEX, is also scheduled to rendezvous with Apophis shortly after the 2029 flyby. 2028 will be a period of trajectory refinement and instrument preparation for this redirected mission. These missions will study how Earth’s gravity affects Apophis’s rotation, surface, and orbit, providing data crucial for planetary defense strategies.
Beyond the asteroid’s trajectory, 2028 falls within a period of heightened space weather activity from the Sun. Solar Cycle 25, which began in December 2019, has been significantly stronger than initially expected. While the maximum activity may have passed, the cycle’s descending phase will still feature a high frequency of solar flares and coronal mass ejections. These powerful eruptions can disrupt satellite communications, GPS navigation, and terrestrial power grids. Vigilance from space weather forecasters and infrastructure operators will be required to mitigate the effects of potential geomagnetic storms.
Environmental Targets and Expected Trends
Climate projections indicate that 2028 will reinforce the urgent need for emissions reduction. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) predicts that the annual mean near-surface temperature for the period 2024–2028 will be 1.1°C to 1.9°C higher than the pre-industrial baseline (1850–1900). There is an 86% probability that at least one year within this window will surpass 2023 as the warmest year on record.
Regarding long-term climate thresholds, analysis suggests that by early 2028, society will have emitted enough carbon dioxide to make crossing the 1.5°C global warming limit more likely than not. This calculation is based on the remaining carbon budget and current emission rates. This signals that the window for achieving the Paris Agreement’s most ambitious temperature goal is closing rapidly.
Although 2028 lacks a single international emissions target, the year will serve as a checkpoint for goals set at COP conferences. Agreements call for tripling renewable energy capacity and doubling the annual rate of energy efficiency improvements by 2030. The progress observed in 2028 will reflect whether nations are on track to meet these mid-term goals necessary to limit long-term warming. Additionally, 2028 is slated to include a dedicated dialogue on the climate-trade nexus, emphasizing that international trade policies must align with climate action.
Global Infrastructure and Research Programs
2028 is a significant milestone for human space exploration, particularly the NASA-led Artemis program. This year is the planned launch window for Artemis IV, the second crewed mission to dock with the Lunar Gateway. This mission is designed to deliver and install the International Habitation Module (I-Hab) onto the Gateway, a small space station orbiting the Moon.
The successful deployment of the I-Hab in 2028 will allow astronauts to live and work in the lunar outpost for the first time. This marks a substantial step toward a sustained human presence in lunar orbit and utilizes the Gateway as a staging point for eventual missions to Mars. Concurrent with space efforts, major terrestrial infrastructure projects continue to progress toward 2028 completion or operational milestones.
Numerous large-scale construction projects worldwide are expected to see significant progress or near-completion by 2028. For instance, the UK’s High-Speed 2 (HS2) railway project is expected to have completed massive civil works along the initial southern stage, establishing the foundation for future track and station installation. Similarly, mega-projects in the Middle East and Asia, such as the development of futuristic cities like NEOM, will have advanced substantially. These projects showcase the deployment of new technologies in urban planning, renewable energy, and advanced manufacturing.
Separating Fact from Science Fiction
Looking ahead often attracts sensationalized claims that lack a scientific basis. Claims of a guaranteed global economic collapse or a sudden, catastrophic shift in Earth’s magnetic poles in 2028 are examples of popular speculation that should be viewed with skepticism. These predictions often rely on vague timelines and ignore the slow, incremental nature of most geological and economic processes.
Scientific analysis deals in probabilities, trends, and projected timelines rather than fixed, dramatic events. For instance, the close approach of Apophis in 2029 has been the subject of exaggerated impact scenarios, despite radar observations confirming no risk of collision for at least a century. Understanding the difference between a high-profile scientific event and an actual threat is important for maintaining a factual perspective.