Summary report, 22–23 September 2024

“We will either drown in debt or be drowned by the sea.” This poignant remark by Tuvalu’s Deputy Prime Minister on the nexus between climate vulnerability, geopolitics, and finance was one of the running themes of the Summit of the Future (SOTF). Following the adoption of the Summit’s outcome document, the Pact for the Future and its two annexes, the Global Digital Compact and the Declaration on Future Generations, Heads of State and Government and other high-level officials continued discussions in plenary statements and interactive dialogues over the two days of the Summit.

The multilateral system is broken, many stressed, while conceding there is no conceivable alternative to the United Nations for creating a peaceful, fair, inclusive and rules-based global system that works for current as well as future generations. Many speakers reiterated that with slow progress or regression on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (2030 Agenda) and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Summit should be seen as a last-ditch effort to turn the tide and rebuild the trust that is so crucial in reimagining a system of global governance that works for all.

Against a backdrop of deepening conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East, and Sudan, many expressed concern that the UN Security Council is “no longer fit for purpose.” There were calls for its membership to be expanded to “redress the historic injustice” to Africa, and expand access for other developing regions. Other recurring themes of discussion included:

• the transformative power of peacebuilding and reconciliation as the foundations for sustainable development;
• the importance of reforming the international financial architecture to ensure that resources for the SDGs flow to where they are most needed;
• embracing science and technology, innovation, and digital cooperation to bridge the growing digital divide, while mitigating the harmful impacts of artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies; and
• empowering youth and future generations as agents of change.

Alongside the plenary statements, four “Interactive Dialogues” took place, focusing on transforming global governance and turbocharging the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, enhancing multilateralism for international peace and security, strengthening inclusive innovation and cooperation to bridge the digital divide, and enhancing the global system for current and future generations.

Immediately following the Summit, the annual “SDG Moment” brought together high-level participants and speakers from government, the private sector, youth organizations, and the arts to “check the pulse” of SDG implementation and offer “disruptive” ideas for scaling up action in the final push to 2030. The discussions highlighted inspiring examples of progress from around the world and emphasized the role of political leadership, SDG investment, and global partnerships in achieving three critical “just transitions”: food systems transformation, the renewable energy shift, and expanded digital connectivity. Informal panel discussions explored the importance of quality education, skills development, and access to decent work as pillars of the 2030 Agenda.

The Summit of the Future convened on 22 and 23 September 2024 at UN Headquarters in New York, followed by the SDG Moment on 24 September, as the UN General Assembly opened its 79th session and General Debate.

A Brief History of the Summit of the Future

Every year in September, world leaders gather at UN Headquarters in New York to engage in the General Debate of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). Leveraging dignitaries’ presence, a series of high-level events often convenes alongside the UNGA, forming a “UN Summits Week.” The topics for these focal moments vary from year to year, with recurrent themes including sustainable development, climate change, and finance.

UN Sustainable Development Summit: In September 2015, leaders at the UN Sustainable Development Summit adopted “Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” (2030 Agenda)—a global commitment that includes 17 Sustainable Development Goals, 169 targets, and a framework for follow-up and review of implementation. The Summit also decided that the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), which was established following the 2012 UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Earth Summit+20) would be responsible for follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda. The HLPF meets every year under the auspices of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and every four years at the level of Heads of State and Government, under the auspices of the UNGA.

First SDG Summit: The SDG Summit (24-25 September 2019) was the first meeting of the HLPF to convene under the auspices of the UNGA following the adoption of the 2030 Agenda. Heads of State and Government reviewed progress in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs and adopted a political declaration, “Gearing up for a decade of action and delivery for sustainable development.”

Second SDG Summit: Taking place at the halfway point of the 2030 Agenda in 2023, the second SDG Summit aimed to provide renewed impetus and accelerate action for the SDGs. More than 290 high-level dignitaries participated at the Summit and adopted a political declaration reaffirming their intent to effectively implement the SDGs and “turn our world towards 2030.”

SDG Moments: Building on the mandate from the 2019 SDG Summit, the Secretary-General convenes annual SDG Moments to provide a snapshot of SDG progress as well as areas where more action is needed. The events are organized during the annual UN General Debate and bring together a diverse range of leaders from government, international institutions, academia, civil society, and the private sector to ensure that the SDGs remain at the top of the political agenda throughout the Decade of Action to 2030.

UN75 Initiative: The official commemoration of the UN’s 75th anniversary convened virtually on 21 September 2020, addressing the theme, “The future we want, the United Nations we need: Reaffirming our collective commitment to multilateralism.” The meeting adopted a four-page outcome document, the Declaration on the Commemoration of the Seventy-fifth Anniversary of the United Nations, in which Member States recognize that global challenges are interconnected and can only be addressed through reinvigorated multilateralism. Against the backdrop of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the Declaration states that implementation of the 2030 Agenda is necessary for human and planetary survival, and that multilateral action is critical “to build back better” from the pandemic.

The UN75 initiative kicked off the Summit of the Future process in 2021. The idea of a Summit of the Future was first proposed in the UN Secretary-General’s 2021 report, Our Common Agenda, which proposed 12 concrete actions to strengthen and accelerate a new global social contract anchored in human rights to deliver equitably and sustainably for all. The report was accompanied by a series of policy briefs containing specific proposals for realizing each commitment.

Preparations for the Summit of the Future – Intergovernmental Process: On 8 September 2022, the UNGA adopted resolution 76/307 on the modalities for the Summit of the Future, deciding that:

• the Summit of the Future would adopt a concise, action-oriented outcome document entitled “A Pact for the Future,” agreed in advance by consensus through intergovernmental negotiations:
• the scope of the Summit would encompass five elements that would be reflected in the structure of the outcome document: sustainable development and financing for development; international peace and security; science, technology and innovation and digital cooperation; youth and future generations; and transforming global governance; and
• the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development would be taken into account in the relevant chapters of the Pact.

Over 18 months, the negotiation process to develop the text of the Pact for the Future and its two annexes, the Global Digital Compact and the Declaration on Future Generations, was co-facilitated by the Permanent Representatives of Germany, Namibia, the Netherlands, Jamaica, Sweden and Zambia. The UNGA President unveiled the final draft texts only on the eve of the Summit itself, after many rounds of difficult negotiations behind closed doors.

Civil Society Preparations: As part of the year-long UN75 commemorations in 2019-20, broad-based public consultations took place to collect the views of ordinary citizens on “The Future We Want.” These inputs, along with technical inputs and consultations organized by the Coalition for the UN We Need and other civil society networks, provided additional opportunities to articulate the perspectives of non-state actors in the intergovernmental process. In the lead up to the SOTF, the Co-Facilitators of the Pact for the Future and its two annexes convened regular briefing sessions with civil society, and participated in the UN Civil Society Conference in Support of the Summit for the Future held in Nairobi, Kenya, in May 2024.  During the HLPF in July 2024, the Co-Chairs of the Civil Society Conference presented the outcomes of the meeting as well as their Open letter on the Pact for the Future, calling on UN Member States to ensure that the Summit establishes “robust and accountable follow-up mechanisms in order to effectively revitalize global governance with the United Nations at its core.”

Summit of the Future Action Days: Held just prior to the Summit, on 20 and 21 September 2024, the Summit’s Action Days focused on multi-stakeholder partnerships and action “paving a way towards the next chapter of multilateralism that is more inclusive and networked.”

Summit of the Future Report

Following a musical performance by singer Renée Fleming, Grammy award winner and World Health Organization Goodwill Ambassador for Arts and Health, and a video presentation featuring the just-concluded Action Days, UNGA President Philémon Yang formally opened the SOTF on Sunday, 22 September 2024.

Plenary

UNGA President Yang invited delegates to adopt the Summit outcome documents: the Pact for the Future and its two annexes, the Global Digital Compact and the Declaration on Future Generations.

The RUSSIAN FEDERATION tabled a last-minute amendment (A/79/L.3) objecting to the adoption of the Pact for the Future. Congo, on behalf of the AFRICAN GROUP, called for a vote of “no action.” With 143 countries in favor, and seven against, the resolution text was retained. Member States then formally adopted the Pact for the Future and its two annexes (A/79/L.2),

In their opening statements, UNGA President Philémon Yang and UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed optimism that the Pact for the Future would help steer a path towards strengthened multilateralism. Guterres stressed that the Pact for the Future lays the foundation for transformation that includes a groundbreaking commitment by governments to listen to young people and involve them in decision making at all levels and the first “truly universal agreement” on AI governance. Noting that people never agree on the past, he expressed optimism that the SOTF has set a course towards a future that can meet the expectations of all.

Three youth representatives called for a more tolerant, inclusive, and rights-based global system in which the voices of the most underrepresented and marginalized groups are not only heard but embraced. Reflecting on the 18-month long negotiating process, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz noted the Pact for the Future is needed “now more than ever” because everyone’s fate is deeply interlinked with global challenges, including poverty, hunger, impediments to free and fair trade, and AI. Nangolo Mbumba, President of Namibia, said the Pact’s adoption embodies the African proverb that “tomorrow belongs to the people who plan for it today.”

Approximately 100 Heads of State and Government delivered statements during the two-day plenary segment, accounting for close to half of the total number of high-level speakers. 

Many speakers welcomed the adoption of the Pact for the Future and its two annexes, likening it to hitting the restart button in charting a more inclusive, fair, and rules-based global system. However, laments about a gloomy future were also heard. Many asserted that global targets will not be achieved without the full empowerment of women, youth, and other marginalized groups, with some specifying that the next UN Secretary-General should be a woman.

BRAZIL recalled that the UN Secretary-General invited the General Assembly to rethink, renovate, and reform the UN twenty years ago, saying the SDGs are the biggest set of goals the UN has ever undertaken but are on track to be “the UN’s biggest failure.” Echoed by many speakers, the MALDIVES said political courage is needed to grant Palestine full status in the UN and stop the Gaza genocide. BARBADOS called on this generation to follow the model of those in history who dismantled slavery, acted to stop genocide, and gave women the vote.

JAMAICA said the Summit exposes the lack of progress towards the SDGs, especially in small island developing states (SIDS), and the glaring financing gap and concomitant food inequality and insecurity.

GREECE noted consensus was reached on climate change because everyone knew the stakes were so high. Noting the UN was created after a devastating world war, he urged everyone to take action before devastation this time. Samoa, on behalf of the ALLIANCE OF SMALL ISLAND STATES (AOSIS), highlighted the existential threat of climate change to SIDS. She called for “breathing life into the Paris Agreement with renewed vigor,” and ensuring that “our collective efforts are not a whisper but a clarion call to limit warming to 1.5°C.”

LITHUANIA called for a stronger multilateral response to the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. EGYPT emphasized the importance of upholding the UN Charter and sovereign equality of states to maintain global order. He criticized double standards in international governance, warning that justice in the international system “has been sorely tested” due to the international community’s “impotence” in resolving the conflict in the Middle East. He also stressed the need for nuclear disarmament and supported making the Middle East a nuclear-free zone.

Most statements noted the impact of multiple serious conflicts happening around the world, with several speakers noting that global peace and security has never been under such threat since World War II. In particular, the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan were repeatedly mentioned.

FINLAND presented a three-point plan for UN Security Council reform that entails: adding five new permanent seats for underrepresented regions—two each for Africa and Latin America and one for Asia; scrapping all veto power; and withdrawing voting privileges for countries that blatantly violate the UN Charter. TONGA called for SIDS representation on the Security Council.

Along with many other speakers, GABON urged meaningful reform of the international financial architecture to tackle debt and innovative funding mechanisms for sustainable development such as debt-for-nature swaps. NORWAY expressed support for negotiations towards the proposed UN framework convention on international tax cooperation and called for an ambitious outcome to the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in Spain in 2025.

NAURU welcomed the adoption of the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index, noting it offers a tool for channeling concessional financing to countries most affected by the climate crisis. UKRAINE noted that some countries are actively opposing initiatives to strengthen the UN Charter, citing “seven accomplices” and asserting its resistance to Russia’s “colonial aggression.”

MAURITANIA said Africa’s SDG-aligned Agenda 2063 undertakes to fight violence, terrorism, vulnerability, and poverty. LIBYA noted that, as a transit country, it is suffering from unregulated migration and called for addressing the root causes through development assistance to the relevant countries.

HAITI requested an urgent global response to the existential threats it is experiencing, citing organ, arms, and drug trafficking and increasing hurricanes, and droughts due to climate change. PALESTINE said it is striving to respond to global challenges despite the burden of Israel’s occupation and manmade catastrophes.

A full list of statement can be found at https://www.un.org/en/summit-of-the-future/statements.

Interactive Dialogues

Four high-level thematic sessions took place over the two days, with inputs from approximately 200 high-level representatives, including Heads of State and Government, ministers, and leaders of international organizations, academic institutions, civil society, and other stakeholders.

Interactive Dialogue 1: Transforming Global Governance and Turbocharging the Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: This dialogue on Sunday, 22 September, addressed some critical issues relating to global economic stability, development financing, and the equitable management of global economic resources. It was chaired by K.P Sharma Oli, Prime Minister of Nepal.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General, World Trade Organization, called for reimagining globalization to include those at the margins. She identified ongoing efforts to reform fossil fuel subsidies and other environmentally and socially harmful policies that could help unlock trillions of dollars in additional funding for a just transition. Ajay Banga, President, World Bank Group, underscored the need to build coalitions of willing partners to tackle the scale of the challenges, such as spiraling youth unemployment.

Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director, International Monetary Fund (IMF) said that while global economic recovery has been better than expected, overall prospects for growth are at their lowest level in decades, especially for low-income economies who are also facing elevated debt burdens.

In the subsequent discussion, SOUTH AFRICA highlighted her country’s leadership in calling for a fundamental transformation of the global financial architecture. EGYPT called for improvements in debt sustainability analysis and credit rating methodologies, and reallocating Special Drawing Rights to strengthen global liquidity and capacity to respond to shocks. LUXEMBOURG said his country was among a handful of Member States that have surpassed the official development assistance (ODA) target of 0.7% of their gross domestic product (GDP), further noting the bulk of funds have been directed towards climate-vulnerable least developed countries.

The EU said while the region remains the world’s largest provider of ODA, there is a need to more collectively unlock sustainable financing at scale, pointing to the imminent launch of a new EU voluntary standard for green bonds.

Observing that “we will either drown in debt or be drowned by the sea,” TUVALU pointed to the UN High Seas Treaty as a good example of what we can achieve if we work together. CUBA urged tackling unconditional coercive measures.  LIBERIA noted that, while transformation is an imperative, “if we don’t agree on what this means for all countries we cannot move towards it equitably.” MALAWI favored the development of a global framework on the safe use of AI. The GROUP OF FRIENDS OF UN-HABITAT stressed the SDGs can only be achieved if cities become just, sustainable, and resilient. The UK expressed support for a more inclusive UN Security Council.

Other issues highlighted by speakers included the need for:

• tackling poverty through green and decent jobs, especially for youth;
• empowering women in decision making processes;
• enhancing the use of data to measure SDG progress; and
• pursuing digital inclusion.

Interactive Dialogue 2: Enhancing multilateralism for international peace and security: This session convened on Sunday, 22 September, and explored how to reinvigorate the UN Charter and international law to address current challenges to international peace and security in the context of heightened divisions among Member States. The session was co-chaired by Julius Maada Bio, President of Sierra Leone, and Simon Harris, Taoiseach of Ireland.

In opening remarks, Bio stressed the transformative power of peacebuilding and reconciliation as the foundations for sustainable development. He called the equitable and transparent reform of the Security Council and other institutions a priority because the erosion of trust and resurgence of nationalism are testing the very foundations of the UN. Harris called for ending the use of the veto power and for an architecture to make the Security Council more representative, as well as placing women and youth at the center of the UN’s work.

In her scene-setting remarks, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, former President of Liberia, called for “learning from the bitter past,” emphasizing the world’s fragility given the pandemic, conflicts, climate change, and the emergence of complex security risks. Juan Manuel Santos, former President of Colombia, for “The Elders,” a group founded by Nelson Mandela, said the commitment to include women in conflict resolution and peacebuilding has not been realized, noting he witnessed an “astonishingly successful” outcome to negotiations between the sides involved in a Colombian conflict when women were involved.

Comfort Ero, President and CEO of the International Crisis Group, cited rising violence and conflict juxtaposed against the UN’s ability to respond, noting the Pact’s provision of decision-making bodies and tools. Ero bemoaned weak language on how climate change leads to conflict and called for reviewing peacekeeping operations, building coalitions of states across the Security Council, generating political will, and working with regional organizations to enhance aid.

In ensuing statements, many speakers offered their ideas for Security Council reform, with several lauding the work of the UN Peacebuilding Commission and calling for its strengthening.

LIECHTENSTEIN suggested empowering the General Assembly to act when the Security Council is unable to do so, and to weaken veto power so no party to a dispute can block action.

Many speakers supported language in the Pact on redressing the historical injustice against Africa as a priority, while also improving the representation of other underrepresented and unrepresented regions in the Security Council.

INDIA said structures designed 80 years ago are ineffective in an interconnected multipolar world with rising terrorism and risks from emerging technologies. TÜRKIYE favored abolishing or limiting veto power in the Security Council because increasing the number of Security Council members would exacerbate existing problems. BELARUS said the current geopolitical crisis was triggered by certain Western countries who want to attain global hegemony and questioned how to reverse it.

AFGHANISTAN (government in exile) said the Taliban’s rule highlights the importance of multilateral action to prioritize the participation of women and called a strong response to terrorism essential, based in international law. THE LEAGUE OF ARAB STATES lamented that the UN’s paralysis meant it took almost a year for the Security Council to call for a ceasefire in Gaza, due to “double standards.”

Many countries including BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA, SOUTH SUDAN, BELARUS and the REPUBLIC OF KOREA highlighted ongoing conflicts in their regions.

The UN OFFICE ON DRUGS AND CRIME announced the recent finalization of the UN Convention on Cybercrime, citing lessons to let women lead, inject the urgency of emerging issues into the negotiations, and obtain civil society and private sector help to steer conversations away from geopolitics.

Other issues highlighted in the discussions included:

• the increasing humanitarian impact of forced displacement due to conflicts, now affecting an estimated one in 70 people globally;
• the need to ensure institutions governing new technologies, especially AI, are transparent and inclusive, in light of growing risks of incorporating AI into nuclear command and control; and
• the need for technology companies to set up systems to detect harmful information on their platforms and humanitarian organizations to secure their databases.

Interactive Dialogue 3: Towards a Common Digital Future: Strengthening Inclusive Innovation and Cooperation to Bridge the Digital Divides: This session took place on Monday, 23 September, and was co-chaired by Alar Karis, President of Estonia, and Mohamed Muizzu, President of the Maldives. The session explored how digital technologies can be leveraged to foster sustainable development in a balanced and inclusive manner, while mitigating their negative impacts.

Karis highlighted parallels between the dialogue’s theme and Estonia’s “success story” of enhancing transparency, openness, and innovation with digital technologies. This transformation, he continued, enabled the country’s startups to flourish, and brought education, policy, trade, and other sectors to a “new level.” He cited X-Road, an open-source data exchange solution developed by Estonia and used by other countries, as an example of successful cross-border collaboration.

Muizzu stressed the pressing need to bridge the digital divide, reminding everyone that one third of the world’s population remains disconnected from the internet. He called for initiatives that enable young people to participate in the digital economy and safeguard consumer rights, noting the establishment of a National Cybersecurity Agency in the Maldives.

In scene-setting remarks, Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary-General, International Telecommunications Union (ITU), said “game changing” digital solutions could accelerate 70% of SDG targets, but warned the digital divide threatens this opportunity. “We are in a race against time,” she concluded, and urged for digital inclusion to keep up with the pace of digital transformation.

Juan M. Lavista Ferres, Corporate Vice President and Chief Data Scientist, AI for Good Lab, Microsoft, called for “mistakes of the past,” such as the usual delay for a global uptake of new technologies, not to be repeated, and said Microsoft partners with ITU in mapping communities unconnected to the internet.

Linda Bonyo, Founder, Lawyers Hub, said to help close the digital divide, startups in the developing world should be empowered and the issue of restrictive visa regimes should be addressed, as these prevent African, Latin American, and Asian professionals from sharing local expertise in global fora.

ALBANIA described their development of AI models to assist in their membership negotiations with the EU. NORWAY noted they provide financing for digital public goods in sectors such as climate, agriculture, and health systems, and cited the Digital Public Good Alliance as an example of multi-stakeholder partnership.

BRAZIL warned against the “exponential growth” of misinformation, misogyny, and hate speech on social media. Raising a similar concern, ERITREA called for stronger ethical guidelines to guide the development of new technologies. BHUTAN described its transition from isolation to global integration as one of the last countries to introduce television and the internet, noting that 34% of its population has received digital training.

The RUSSIAN FEDERATION said more than 80 AI-based projects on areas ranging from public transport fares to public security are being developed in Moscow, with the view of scaling them up in the country.

Other issues highlighted in the discussions included the Global Digital Compact’s ability to enhance multi-stakeholder cooperation, as well as the potential of youth as “digital natives” to spearhead the digital transformation.

In closing remarks, Amandeep Singh Gill, the UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Technology, said the Compact moves away from silos and sectoral approaches and “bends” technology in the public interest through its focus on digital public goods.

Interactive Dialogue 4: The Future Starts Now: Enhancing the Global System for Current and Future Generations: Co-Chair Andrew Holness, Prime Minister of Jamaica, opened the Dialogue on Monday, 23 September, stressing that “we must seize this opportunity to ensure that multilateralism is not a relic of the past, but a dynamic force for the 21st century.” Co-Chair Luc Mercelina, Prime Minister of Sint Maarten, said the Pact for the Future places future generations, who cannot represent themselves, at the center of decision-making.

Volker Turk, UN High-Commissioner for Human Rights, stressed human rights must be protected as they “grew on the lessons of the past, bringing them into the decisions of today to protect the present and future.” Mafalda Duarte, Executive Director of the Green Climate Fund (GCF), warned that progress on climate is not fast enough. She called for changing how we measure and assess risk and reminded delegates that the GCF has a roadmap for administering USD 50 billion by 2030.

Felipe Paullier, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs, stressed young people must be engaged as full-fledged partners across all aspects of decision-making and encouraged delegates to implement Action 36 of the Pact for the Future on strengthening youth participation at the national level.

SINGAPORE said the need for anticipatory planning and foresight has never been greater. BURUNDI noted his country set up a youth investment bank to empower young people to be “agents of peace and development.”

The COMOROS, along with other SIDS, described the existential threat of sea level rise for their country, stressing their future depends on international cooperation and financing. SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS said the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index, the Pact for the Future, and the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS signal positive changes in the “culture of global sustainability.”

The US described the President’s Emergency Plan for Adaptation and Resilience, which seeks to help more than half a billion people in developing countries adapt to and manage the impacts of climate change by 2030.

SPAIN stressed that countries should not have to choose “between the pain of debt or dealing with climate change.” The UN SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL ON VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN said the direct and indirect costs of violence against children are estimated to impact around 11% of annual global gross domestic product (GDP).

The WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO) called for a global agreement on pandemics.

CIVICS UNPLUGGED described a network of high school students that produce advisory reports on global issues such as AI, climate change, and education. 

In final reflections, Kitty van der Heijden, Deputy Executive Director, UNICEF, warned that three crises, namely COVID-19, climate change, and conflict, are unravelling decades of progress on children’s wellbeing, but there is hope in “courage, determination, and sustained investment.”

Closing Plenary

In a brief closing session on Monday evening, 23 September, UNGA President Yang said the SOTF and its outcome documents had answered the UN Secretary General’s call to better respond to current and future challenges and reinvigorate multilateralism. He congratulated Member States for working with focus and solidarity over the last two years to meet this “historic milestone,” but stressed that the work does not end here. The SOTF, he added, “must propel our collective ability to deliver in the future.” He urged stakeholders to “never forget the lives already lost under the weight of poverty, hunger and want,” and those still suffering from conflict, violence and deprivation. He concluded by urging that no one ever lose sight of those future generations “to whom we owe our best efforts to create a world that outlives and empowers all of humanity, leaving no one behind.” He declared the Summit closed at 8:11 pm.

Final Outcome

The Pact for the Future contains a 17-paragraph chapeau and five chapters that detail 56 “Actions.” The chapeau:

• warns we must change course or risk tipping into a future of persistent crisis and breakdown;
• states this requires a recommitment to international cooperation based on respect for international law; and
• recognizes the multilateral system and its institutions, with the United Nations and its Charter at the center, must be strengthened to keep pace with a changing world.

Chapter 1: Sustainable development and financing for development: Recognizing that “progress on most of the Sustainable Development Goals is either moving too slowly or has regressed below the 2015 baseline,” this chapter contains 12 Actions, including commitments to:

• take bold, ambitious, accelerated, just and transformative actions to implement the 2030 Agenda, achieve the SDGs and leave no one behind;
• place the eradication of poverty at the center of our efforts to achieve the 2030 Agenda;
• end hunger and eliminate food insecurity and all forms of malnutrition;
• close the SDG financing gap in developing countries;
• ensure the multilateral trading system continues to be an engine for sustainable development;
• invest in people to end poverty and strengthen trust and social cohesion;
• strengthen efforts to build peaceful, just and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels and uphold human rights and fundamental freedoms;
• achieve gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls as a crucial contribution to progress across all the SDGs and targets;
• strengthen our actions to address climate change;
• accelerate our efforts to restore, protect, conserve and sustainably use the environment;
• protect and promote culture and sport as integral components of sustainable development; and
• plan for the future and strengthen our collective efforts to turbocharge the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda by 2030 and beyond.

Chapter 2: International peace and security: This chapter expresses concern about “the increasing and diverse threats to international peace and security, particularly violations of the purposes and principles of the Charter, and the growing risks of a nuclear war that could pose an existential threat to humanity.” It also recognizes that the “United Nations has an indispensable role in the maintenance of international peace and security.” Among the 15 Actions in this chapter, Member States commit to, inter alia:

• redouble efforts to build and sustain peaceful, inclusive and just societies and address the root causes of conflicts;
• protect all civilians in armed conflict;
• ensure that people affected by humanitarian emergencies receive the support they need;
• promote cooperation and understanding between Member States, defuse tensions, seek the pacific settlement of disputes and resolve conflicts;
• fulfil our obligation to comply with the decisions and uphold the mandate of the International Court of Justice in any case to which “our State” is a party;
• build and sustain peace;
• accelerate the implementation of our commitments on women, peace and security;
• accelerate the implementation of our commitments on youth, peace and security;
• adapt peace operations to better respond to existing challenges and new realities;
• address the serious impact of threats to maritime security and safety;
• pursue a future free from terrorism;
• prevent and combat transnational organized crime and related illicit financial flows;
• advance the goal of a world free of nuclear weapons;
• uphold our disarmament obligations and commitments; and
• seize the opportunities associated with new and emerging technologies and address the potential risks posed by their misuse.

Chapter 3: Science, technology and innovation and digital cooperation: This chapter underscores the potential of science, technology and innovation to accelerate the realization of the aspirations of the United Nations across all three pillars of its work. However, it also warns about “the potential risks posed by science and technology” and the potential can only be realized if “bold, ambitious and decisive steps to bridge the growing divide” are taken. Member States commit to pursue six Actions, including:

• seizing the opportunities presented by science, technology and innovation for the benefit of people and planet;
• scaling up the means of implementation to developing countries to strengthen their science, technology and innovation capacities;
• ensuring that science, technology and innovation contribute to the full enjoyment of human rights by all;
• ensuring that science, technology and innovation improve gender equality and the lives of all women and girls;
• protecting, building on and complementing Indigenous, traditional and local knowledge; and
• supporting the Secretary-General to strengthen the role of the United Nations in supporting international cooperation in science, technology and innovation.

Chapter 4: Youth and future generations: This chapter recognizes that children and young persons are “critical agents of positive change,” and that they and future generations will live with “the consequences of our actions and our inaction.” It contains four Actions committing to:

• invest in the social and economic development of children and young people so that they can reach their full potential;
• promote, protect and respect the human rights of all young people and foster social inclusion and integration;
• strengthen meaningful youth participation at the national level; and
• strengthen meaningful youth participation at the international level.

Chapter 5: Transforming global governance: This chapter recognizes the “remarkable achievements” of the multilateral system to date, reaffirms “unwavering commitment to international law,” calls for a transformation in global governance, and stresses we “must renew trust in global institutions by making them more representative of and responsive to today’s world.” This chapter contains 19 Actions, in which Member States commit to:

• transform global governance and reinvigorate the multilateral system to tackle the challenges, and seize the opportunities, of today and tomorrow;
• reform the Security Council, recognizing the urgent need to make it more representative, inclusive, transparent, efficient, effective, democratic and accountable;
• strengthen our efforts in the framework of the intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council reform as a matter of priority and without delay;
• strengthen the response of the Security Council for the maintenance of international peace and security and its relationship with the General Assembly;
• increase our efforts to revitalize the work of the General Assembly;
• strengthen the Economic and Social Council to accelerate sustainable development;
• strengthen the Peacebuilding Commission;
• strengthen the United Nations system;
• ensure the effective enjoyment by all of all human rights and respond to new and emerging challenges;
• accelerate reform of the international financial architecture to address the challenges of today and tomorrow;
• accelerate reform of the international financial architecture to address the challenges of today and tomorrow and to strengthen the voice and representation of developing countries;
• accelerate reform of the international financial architecture to mobilize additional financing for the SDGs, respond to the needs of developing countries, and direct financing to those most in need;
• accelerate reform of the international financial architecture so countries can borrow sustainably to invest in their long-term development;
• accelerate the reform of the international financial architecture to strengthen its capacity to support developing countries more effectively and equitably during systemic shocks and make the financial system more stable;
• accelerate the reform of the international financial architecture so that it can meet the urgent challenge of climate change;
• develop a framework on measures of progress on sustainable development to complement and go beyond gross domestic product;
• strengthen the international response to complex global shocks;
• strengthen our partnerships to deliver on existing commitments and address new and emerging challenges; and
• strengthen international cooperation for the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes and for the benefit of all humanity.

Annex 1: Global Digital Compact: The Global Digital Compact’s stated goal is to set out the “objectives, principles, commitments and actions” to be undertaken to achieve “an inclusive, open, sustainable, fair, safe and secure digital future for all.” To do so, the Compact specifies five objectives:

• close all digital divides and accelerate progress across the SDGs;
• expand inclusion in and benefits from the digital economy for all;
• foster an inclusive, open, safe and secure digital space that respects, protects and promote human rights;
• advance responsible, equitable and interoperable data governance approaches; and
• enhance international governance of artificial intelligence for the benefit of humanity.

It covers a range of topics, including connectivity, digital inclusion, digital public goods, human rights, internet governance, digital trust and safety, information integrity, data privacy and security, data exchanges and standards, cross-border data flows, and artificial intelligence.

The last 11 paragraphs are devoted to follow up and review of the Compact, which includes: modalities for the voluntary endorsement of this Compact to be made accessible beginning in December 2024; a call for financial pledges to support its implementation; and the convening of a high-level meeting entitled “High-level review of the Global Digital Compact,” to take place during UNGA’s eighty-second session.

Annex 2: Declaration on Future Generations: The Declaration on Future Generations seeks to “seize the opportunity that present generations possess to leave a better future for generations to come and to fulfil our commitment to meet the demands of the present in a way that safeguards the needs and interests of future generations.” It outlines 13 commitments, including: promoting international stability, peace and security; recognizing, respecting, promoting and protecting the rights of Indigenous Peoples; and strengthening cooperation among states to ensure safe, orderly and regular migration between countries of origin, transit and destination.

Nine Actions then follow, including on:

• leveraging science, data, statistics and strategic foresight to ensure long-term thinking and planning;
• ensuring inclusive and equitable access to knowledge, science and information;
• strengthening our systems of national and global accounting, including by promoting the use of forward-looking, evidence-based impact assessments;
• investing in capacity to better prepare for and respond to future global shocks, crises and challenges;
• fostering an organizational culture that is future-oriented and mainstreamed across the United Nations system;
• undertaking a whole-of-government approach to coordination, including at the national and local levels, on the assessment, development, implementation and evaluation of policies that safeguard the needs and interests of future generations;
• enhancing cooperation with stakeholders, including civil society, academia, the scientific and technological community, and the private sector […] to share best practices and develop innovative, long-term and forward-thinking ideas in order to safeguard the needs and interests of future generations;
• equipping the multilateral system, including the United Nations, to support States, upon their request, in their efforts to implement this Declaration and embed the needs and interests of future generations and long-term thinking in policymaking processes;
• fostering an organizational culture that is future-oriented and mainstreamed across the United Nations system in order to facilitate science- and evidence-based decision-making; and
• recognizing the important advisory and advocacy role that the United Nations should play with respect to future generations, the Declaration also take notes of the Secretary-General’s proposal to appoint a Special Envoy for Future Generations and sets out to convene an inclusive high-level plenary meeting of the General Assembly on future generations that will review the implementation of this Declaration during UNGA’s eighty-third session.

SDG Moment Report

Convening immediately following the Summit of the Future on 24 September, the 2024 SDG Moment aimed to highlight the role of political leadership, SDG investment, and partnerships in advancing food systems transformation, the renewable energy revolution, and digital connectivity. Organized around a series of inspirational talks and informal conversations, it brought together a diverse mix of speakers from government, international organizations, women, youth, academia, business and the arts.

Introducing the session, Lilly Singh, the UN Secretary-General’s SDG Advocate, stressed that in the face of slow SDG progress, the response should not be to lower expectations, but to bring more resources, attention and innovation to tackle remaining gaps.

António Guterres, UN Secretary-General, noted the just-adopted Pact for the Future recognizes the need for an annual USD 500 million SDG stimulus, as called for by the 2023 SDG Summit.

Philémon Yang, President of the UN General Assembly, said the 2023 SDG Summit had adopted a strong political declaration launching a new phase of accelerated action on the goals. Noting the main challenge today is to maintain focus, he said the just-adopted Pact for the Future offers a dynamic framework for strengthening international cooperation towards this end.

In a conversation with Lilly Singh, Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, and Co-Chair of the SDG Advocates, discussed three key priorities to get the SDGs back on track. He suggested focusing efforts on climate action, and women’s and youth empowerment, describing these as multipliers for diverse other targets. On his takeaways from the Summit of the Future, he said one of the critical issues is how to reform international financing architecture to ensure access to long-term climate financing and new technologies for those that need it the most.

Several discussion segments then ensued, moderated by Femi Oke, Co-Founder, Moderate the Panel. John McArthur, Director, Center for Sustainable Development, opened the first segment on “SDG Stocktake: Where Do We Really Stand?” He said while it may be “easy to think things are getting worse,” a different picture emerges when the SDGs are evaluated by issue and by country. He cited a recent Brookings Institution study that found there is in fact progress on 18 of 24 relevant SDG indicators and pointed to improvements in the rate of HIV incidence, treatment for HIV/AIDS, and access to electricity as examples of what can be achieved.

In a panel discussion, Garry Conille, Prime Minister of Haiti, outlined lessons Haiti provides for the world on how to best support the SDGs, including the need for contextualization and local ownership, and a better balance of humanitarian and development objectives, even during a crisis. Nomonde Ngema, HIV activist, said successes in improving access to HIV/AIDS treatment shows “what is possible when we all work together.” Tariye Gbadegesin, CEO, Climate Investment Funds (CIF), called for investment in “catalytic technologies” and pointed to CIF’s Renewable Energy Integration Program as an example of a well-tested business model at scale. Wellington Dias, Minister for Development and Social Assistance, Brazil, said persistent poverty and hunger are due to a lack of political commitment, adding the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty will be launched at the November 2024 G20 Summit under Brazil’s Presidency.

In the high-level “It’s Happening: Just Transitions for SDG Acceleration” segment, several Heads of State and Government discussed key levers to accelerate the 2030 Agenda. In introductory remarks, Achim Steiner, Administrator, UN Development Programme (UNDP), underscored the importance of making good political choices to achieve the SDGs. Strategic paths to investing at scale, he continued, include the transition towards low carbon pathways, as well as efforts to bridge the digital divide.

Fiamē Naomi Mata’afa, Prime Minister of Samoa, described a multifaceted approach to the existential threat of climate change for her country, including by building financial and technical capacity. Mette Frederiksen, Prime Minister of Denmark, called for a reform of the international financial system and stressed the importance of engaging all actors for a just green transition. Bassirou Diomaye Faye, President of Senegal, said he sought to reduce both connectivity costs in his country, as connectivity is essential for all aspects of life and should be a universal right enshrined in our constitutions. Shehbaz Sharif, Prime Minister of Pakistan, said investment in education can play a pivotal role for development, and described the benefits of the Punjab Educational Endowment Fund. Bernardo Arévalo, President of Guatemala, described efforts to foster more inclusive decision-making through decentralization.

Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General, UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), offered reflections and called for unlocking catalytic investments in developing countries, and focusing these investments on areas that unleash the most synergies, such as education and gender.

The closing session featured an intergenerational discussion between Christina Williams, SDG4 Youth and Student Network, Mia Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados, and Amina J. Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General. Williams called for young people to use their “seat at the table” to foster greater inclusion of other young people who are unrepresented. Mottley said the “elephant in the room is financing.” Mohammed called for all stakeholders to “roll up our sleeves,” as “we know what to do.”

The SDG Moment ended with a performance by DJ Cuppy.

A Brief Analysis of the Summit of the Future

In the second decade of the 21st century, the world faces, in the words of United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, its “biggest shared test since the Second World War,” with “a stark and urgent choice: a breakdown or a breakthrough.” The mission of the Summit of the Future (SOTF) was to accelerate action toward achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by catalyzing reform “to ensure that multilateralism is not a relic of the past, but a dynamic force for the 21st century,” according to Andrew Holness, Prime Minister of Jamaica. This, in a nutshell, may have been the real theme of the two-day Summit as it opened the UN General Assembly’s 79th annual session.

This brief analysis will consider how the Summit and its outcomes tried to set the UN and multilateralism on a new path forward.

A Culmination, a Starting Point, or a Dead End?

The Summit marked the end point of months of closed-door negotiations on the Pact for the Future and its two annexes, the Declaration on Future Generations and the Global Digital Compact. But, as Prime Minister Holness implied, it could represent the first step toward concrete action to reinvigorate multilateralism in an era that is facing the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution; more ongoing violent conflict than at any other point since 1945 and increasing tensions elsewhere; an increasing debt crisis in developing countries; and hundreds of millions of people experiencing extreme poverty and acute food insecurity. In the eyes of many, including Secretary-General Guterres, the UN in its current form, almost 80 years after its founding, is unable to fulfill its mission to advance the global common good.

The drive toward the Summit of the Future began at the commemoration of the UN’s 75th Anniversary in 2020, when Secretary-General Guterres acknowledged that “the world has a surplus of multilateral challenges, but a deficit of multilateral solutions.” He proposed convening this Summit “to forge a new global consensus on what our future should look like, and what we can do today to secure it.”  

Expectations versus Outcomes?

In 2020, the General Assembly requested that the Secretary-General to report back with recommendations to respond to current and future challenges. The following year, Guterres issued his report, Our Common Agenda, a wake-up call to speed up the implementation of the SDGs, and other proposals for action including:

• lowering the voting age and the eligibility age for standing as a candidate for elected office, with the possible creation of a “youth in politics” index to track opening of political space for younger generations;
• a global vaccination plan to at least double the production of vaccines and ensure equitable distribution;
• a minimum global corporate tax;
• a Biennial Summit at the level of Heads of State and Government between the members of the G20 and the members of the Economic and Social Council, the Secretary-General and the heads of the international financial institutions; and
• making the UN Security Council more representative such as through enlargement, including: better representation for Africa; more systematic arrangements for more voices at the table; considering public commitments to exercise restraint in the use of the veto; expanding the use of informal mechanisms to advance sensitive issues; and reinforced action on prevention so that threats do not fester and deteriorate.

Of these proposals, the Pact adopted at the Summit made no mention of voting age, a vaccination plan, or a corporate tax—although in the latter case it acknowledged a(n already ongoing) process towards developing a UN framework convention on international tax cooperation. The Pact’s two annexes, which focus on leveraging opportunities from digital technologies while addressing risks, as well as fostering future-oriented decision-making, were both envisioned in the Secretary-General’s report. While they demonstrated broad agreement on transformative possibilities such as commitments to upholding international law and human rights online or the appointment of a Special Envoy for Future Generations, other themes proved thornier. The two specific areas that showed themselves to be of most concern to many Member States throughout the Summit were the need to reform both the international financial architecture and the UN Security Council.

On the former, the zero draft of the Pact “welcome[d] the Secretary-General’s decision to convene a biennial summit at the level of Heads of State and Government between the members of the Group of 20 and the members of the Economic and Social Council, the Secretary-General and the heads of the international financial institutions, in order to achieve progress in building a stronger and fairer international financial architecture.” This was weakened from stating that Member States “welcome” the initiative to “not[e] with appreciation” the initiative to convene a biennial summit “at the level of Heads of State and Government to strengthen existing and establish more systematic links and coordination between the United Nations and the international financial institutions and…stress the importance of inclusive participation.”

After months of delay in formulating language on Security Council reform, the Pact was surprisingly detailed, reading that “We will reform the Security Council, recognizing the urgent need to make it more representative, inclusive, transparent, efficient, effective, democratic and accountable” and incorporating commitments in eight specific areas. These included, crucially, the statement that “We will intensify efforts to reach an agreement on the future of the veto, including discussions on limiting its scope and use. Other specific actions speak of redressing the historical injustices to Africa as a priority; improving underrepresented regions such as the Asia-Pacific and Latin America and the Caribbean; and enlarging the Security Council to be more representative of UN membership.

The Summit itself “continued the conversation,” both in high-level statements in four six-hour plenary sessions and in four interactive dialogues. The fact that over 130 Heads of State and Government participated manifests some level of perceived urgency for reform. Yet, while there was no argument, for example, with the broadly-accepted the idea that artificial intelligence (AI) needs “guardrails” or strengthening youth rights and participation, the Pact’s many qualifiers and toned-down language served as a reminder of the difficult negotiations that preceded the Summit and the divisive nature of the multiple challenges at stake—particularly those relating to peace and security.

The Pact and the Summit as a Breakthrough?

Calls to make the UN and its organs, as well as other multilateral institutions, more “fit for purpose” in the 21st century are not new. But the calls have become louder as conditions have deteriorated and global cooperation appears to be insufficient to meet global needs. The Pact was called a milestone, but it was not the end nor even the end of the beginning of this effort. Statements in both plenary and the dialogues continued to push for more to be done. For example, many reiterated the Pact’s call for Member States to consider nominating women as candidates to be the first female Secretary-General when Guterres completes his tenure in December 2026.

However, as conflict and the need for assistance to end or prevent conflict was, by far, the subject of most concern to the most delegates, it was not surprising that the war between Russia and Ukraine and the Israeli-Gaza conflict were raised many times. Support for specific actions on Security Council reform was heard again and again, especially in light of the remarkable yet conceivably inevitable failure of the Council to be able to take action against a permanent member engaging in an act of aggression.

It remains to be seen to what extent Member States will follow-up on the specific institutional reforms to which the Pact and many Summit participants alluded or the other measures contained in the Pact’s five chapters, which cover sustainable development and financing for development; international peace and security; science, technology and innovation and digital cooperation; youth and future generations; and transforming global governance. The adoption of the Pact for the Future was the culmination of the process leading to the Summit, but neither the Pact nor the Summit explicitly addressed whether or how the drive for reform would be maintained.

The call to reform the Security Council is not new. One Summit delegate noted that the General Assembly reached a consensus on the need for Security Council reform to achieve more equitable representation and increase in membership as long ago as 1993, at which time a working group on the matter was established. The intergovernmental negotiation process to which the Pact refers was set up in 2008 after a stalemate in the earlier working group, but after 31 years these negotiations have produced no significant results, not surprising given that any real change requires agreement from all five permanent members of the Security Council as they have veto power. The global context has now changed, though, with the increasing prominence of the Global South on the world stage. Emerging economies took a stand for what they expect out of the Summit, as exemplified in the numerous mentions of the upcoming 19th meeting the Heads of State and Government Summit of the Group of 20 (G20) conference in Brazil. Can it be that the Summit has spurred momentum toward real Security Council reform?

Meanwhile, deliberations on UN restructuring and institutional reforms particularly linked to North-South issues and negotiations for a “a new international economic order” (NIEO) began exactly 50 years ago. The NIEO aimed to establish “a more equitable and just world order,” which focused on the right of the developing countries and the peoples of territories under colonial and racial domination and foreign occupation to achieve their liberation and to regain effective control over their natural resources and economic activities.

It was not until 2018 that a General Assembly Resolution on the NIEO was adopted by a vote of 123 in favor, 50 against, and one abstention, split along North-South lines. Given this history, several observers expressed pessimism about progress in this area after the Summit. Others, however, pointed to the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in 2025 that could advance momentum on reforming the international financial architecture to be more equitable, address the financing gap of almost USD 4 trillion for sustainable development in developing countries, and urgently tackle the least developed countries’ current debt burden, which is four times larger than it was a decade ago.

On the Right Track?

The Summit of the Future was not so much about the SDGs as it was about strengthening global governance through institutional reform. The themes that garnered the most expressions of concern at the Summit were not new, but the Summit, and the Pact it adopted, represent a milestone in the sweeping range of topics addressed.

Many speakers, including Secretary-General Guterres himself, bemoaned the deterioration of trust in multilateralism, and particularly in the UN itself. The crisis in multilateralism has seemingly “come to a head” with the fact that the Security Council has not been able to deal with aggression by one of its permanent members. As was noted repeatedly, it took a second world war to propel the creation of the multilateral order that is still the basis of global governance today. The NIEO was also catalyzed by international crises, including economic and security concerns, and the perceived inadequacy of international institutions to address them effectively. Recovery from a crisis can build some common interest in changing things for the better, and it is in areas of common interest that trust can be built, when mutual or compatible goals are sought.

So how large a crisis or collection of crises does it take to successfully transform the multilateral system or even one institution within it? While significant disagreements persist, the commonality of views on the existential threats facing humanity may indeed indicate that today’s crises loom large and threatening enough to push the international community to work together in the “enlightened self-interest” that one delegate perceived, to take concrete actions toward a common goal of global survival. Otherwise, no one can be sure what the future will look like.