On September 22, 2024, world leaders agreed on a historic Pact for the Future that encompasses a Global Digital Compact and a Declaration on Future Generations. This landmark agreement is the culmination of a long, inclusive process designed to reshape international cooperation for today’s challenges and future demands. It is one of the most comprehensive international agreements in recent history, addressing entirely new domains while resolving issues that have lingered for decades. The primary aim of the Pact is to ensure that global institutions remain effective in a rapidly changing world. As United Nations Secretary-General noted, “we cannot create a future fit for our grandchildren with a system built by our grandparents.”
The Pact reflects a collective commitment to upholding the principles of the United Nations and international law. World leaders presented a clear vision of an international framework that not only keeps its promises but is more representative of modern realities. It draws strength from the involvement of governments, civil society, and other key partners.
“The Pact for the Future, the Global Digital Compact, and the Declaration on Future Generations open the door to new opportunities and untapped possibilities,” the Secretary-General said during his remarks at the Summit of the Future. The President of the General Assembly highlighted that this Pact would “lay the foundations for a sustainable, just, and peaceful global order – for all peoples and nations.”
The agreement spans a wide range of critical global issues, including peace and security, sustainable development, climate change, digital cooperation, human rights, gender equality, youth, future generations, and the reform of global governance. The Pact introduces several key deliverables:
Peace and Security
One of the Pact’s most significant provisions is the commitment to reforming the United Nations Security Council. This reform represents the most progressive step toward enhancing the Council’s effectiveness since the 1960s. A major focus of the reform is to correct Africa’s historical under-representation. Additionally, the Pact includes the first multilateral recommitment to nuclear disarmament in over a decade, emphasizing the goal of fully eliminating nuclear weapons.
In space-related issues, the Pact strengthens international frameworks governing outer space, with a commitment to preventing an arms race in space. It also stresses the need to ensure that all nations can benefit from safe and sustainable exploration of space. Furthermore, the agreement aims to prevent the weaponization of new technologies, including lethal autonomous weapons, and affirms that international laws of war must apply to these technologies.
Sustainable Development, Climate Change, and Financing
The Pact is structured to accelerate progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A pivotal aspect of this is the reform of international financial systems to better serve developing countries. This reform includes:
– Providing developing nations with greater influence in decision-making at international financial institutions.
– Mobilizing more resources from multilateral development banks to help these countries meet their developmental needs.
– Restructuring sovereign debt frameworks to allow developing nations to borrow sustainably while investing in their futures, with cooperation from key entities like the IMF, UN, and G20.
– Strengthening global financial safety nets to protect vulnerable populations from economic shocks, through coordinated action by the IMF and member states.
– Speeding up climate change action by delivering more financial resources for adaptation efforts and investments in renewable energy.
The Pact also emphasizes the importance of redefining how human progress is measured. Rather than solely relying on GDP, the Pact advocates for metrics that account for human and planetary well-being and sustainability. Another significant commitment is the introduction of a global minimum tax for high-net-worth individuals. Regarding climate change, the agreement reaffirms the need to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels and transition energy systems away from fossil fuels to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
Digital Cooperation
The annexed Global Digital Compact provides the first comprehensive global framework for digital cooperation and governance of artificial intelligence (AI). Central to this Compact is the idea that technology should be designed, used, and governed to benefit everyone. The Compact outlines commitments to:
– Connect all individuals, schools, and hospitals to the internet.
– Anchor digital cooperation in human rights and international law.
– Ensure that online spaces are safe for everyone, especially children, through the joint efforts of governments, tech companies, and social media platforms.
– Govern AI through a roadmap that includes the creation of an International Scientific Panel and a Global Policy Dialogue on AI.
– Increase openness in data access, with agreements on open-source data, models, and standards.
This agreement marks the first global commitment to data governance, placing it firmly on the United Nations agenda. Countries are expected to take concrete steps by 2030 to meet these commitments.
Youth and Future Generations
The Pact includes the first-ever Declaration on Future Generations, which proposes practical measures to incorporate future generations into current decision-making. One of the proposed measures includes appointing an envoy for future generations. Additionally, there is a clear pledge to create more opportunities for young people to have meaningful involvement in decisions that impact their lives, particularly on a global scale.
Human Rights and Gender Equality
The Pact underscores the importance of advancing human rights and gender equality. It emphasizes empowering women and protecting human rights defenders. Furthermore, it highlights the need for engagement from diverse stakeholders, such as local and regional governments, civil society organizations, and the private sector, to address global governance challenges.
Implementation and Follow-up Actions
The Pact also includes detailed provisions for follow-up actions to ensure that the commitments made during the Summit are implemented effectively. This ensures that the ambitious goals set forth in the Pact lead to tangible results.
Summit Process and Participation
The Summit of the Future, which resulted in the Pact for the Future, was deeply enriched by contributions from millions of voices and thousands of stakeholders worldwide. Over 4,000 participants, including heads of state and government, observers, intergovernmental organizations, and representatives from the United Nations system, civil society, and non-governmental organizations, took part in the Summit.
Preceding the formal Summit were the Action Days held from September 20-21, 2024. These events attracted over 7,000 individuals representing all sectors of society. During the Action Days, stakeholders made strong commitments to action and pledged $1.05 billion to promote digital inclusion.
In conclusion, the Pact for the Future represents a groundbreaking agreement that not only addresses today’s global challenges but also prepares the international community for the issues of tomorrow. It is a bold, comprehensive effort to reform international systems and institutions so they can better serve the needs of all nations and peoples.
