World leaders gathered at the United Nations Headquarters in New York to adopt the “Pact for the Future,” a groundbreaking agreement that seeks to transform global governance to address the challenges of today and tomorrow. This pact includes two key components: the “Global Digital Compact” and the “Declaration on Future Generations.” It is the culmination of years of inclusive international cooperation aimed at ensuring global institutions are fit for purpose in an increasingly complex and rapidly changing world.
The “Pact for the Future” is one of the most wide-ranging international agreements in decades, addressing new areas such as digital governance and providing fresh commitments on long-standing issues where agreement has been elusive, such as Security Council reform and nuclear disarmament.
At the core of the “Pact for the Future” is a clear vision for a more representative and effective international system. World leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the United Nations and international law, recognizing that these frameworks must evolve to remain relevant in addressing current global realities. The pact seeks to strengthen cooperation between governments, civil society, and other stakeholders, ensuring that key global issues are tackled through collective action.
One of the most significant components of the pact involves peace and security. For the first time since the 1960s, there has been a progressive and concrete commitment to reform the UN Security Council. This includes improving its effectiveness and addressing the historical under-representation of Africa, a priority in the ongoing reform efforts. Another major breakthrough is the first multilateral recommitment to nuclear disarmament in over a decade, with world leaders agreeing on a clear goal to eliminate nuclear weapons entirely.
In addition to these efforts, the pact focuses on strengthening international frameworks governing outer space. Countries have committed to preventing an arms race in space, ensuring that the exploration and use of outer space remains safe and benefits all nations. A key focus is on preventing the weaponization of new technologies, such as lethal autonomous weapons, and affirming that international laws of war should apply to emerging technologies.
The pact also aims to “turbo-charge” the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Leaders agreed on an ambitious plan to reform the international financial architecture, giving developing countries a greater voice in global financial institutions. These reforms are designed to mobilize more resources to help developing nations meet their development needs and address sovereign debt issues in a sustainable manner. Climate change is another priority, with a renewed commitment to keeping global temperature rise below 1.5°C and transitioning away from fossil fuels to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
The compact also addresses the growing need for AI governance, with plans for an International Scientific Panel and a Global Policy Dialogue on AI. A groundbreaking commitment to data governance was made, placing it on the UN agenda for the first time and requiring countries to take concrete actions by 2030.
The pact includes the “Declaration on Future Generations,” which outlines concrete steps to ensure future generations are considered in today’s decision-making processes. This declaration paves the way for the possible appointment of an envoy for future generations and emphasizes the importance of youth participation in global governance.
The pact also strengthens the UN’s commitment to human rights, gender equality, and the protection of human rights defenders. Leaders recognized the critical role that civil society, regional governments, and the private sector play in global governance and committed to deepening their engagement.
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