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The United Nations (UN) Summit of the Future was held from the 22nd to the 23rd of September 2024, in New York City. It was an important event for global governance as it emphasized the UN's commitment towards sustainable development while pointing out the urgent challenges.
Illustration by The Geostrata
This conference was attended by more than 4,000 people including national leaders, diplomats and youth representatives and thus, the UN Secretary-General António Guterres termed it a “once in a generation opportunity”, comprising national leaders, members of civil society and young people in general.
KEY THEMES AND CHALLENGES
The circumstances surrounding the summit are those of a world that is plagued by unprecedented challenges. Climate change, tensions between countries and social classes, and issues of the economy including technological disruption – this is the time for action at all levels and walks of life as an urgent response to these multifaceted global challenges.
The COVID-19 issue, as a matter of fact, also worsened existing gaps over economic inequality and raised the red flags on the weaknesses of the global systems. While dealing with these troubles, it was uttered at the UN Summit of the Future that such commitments to address these issues should turn into concrete action.
THE PACT FOR THE FUTURE: GOALS AND COMMITMENTS
The most significant component of the summit was the Pact for the Future, a detailed mechanism that aims to speed up the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Given that only 17% of SDG targets are presently on track, the demand for action in different areas is urgent.
The Pact contains pledges that relate to areas such as peace and security, climate change, the digital world, human rights, and most importantly, the empowerment of the youth.
ADDRESSING GLOBAL ISSUES
Among the most notable undertakings of the Pact, its emphasis on nuclear disarmament takes the lead. This indicates a revitalized enthusiasm toward the effort to completely disarm countries of nuclear weapons after a lapse of over a decade due to persistent stagnation of disarmament talks to promote international cooperation among the nuclear weapons states, involving reductions of nuclear stockpiles, as well as the resolution of the problems concerning the weapon states’ perceived security.
The Pact also challenges the conventional paradigms of development by criticising the over-exploitation of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as the main measure of growth.
In its place, the Pact supports the use of measures, such as human capital and ecological footprints, which aim at enhancing the quality of life of people and fostering the conservation of the ecology. Such change is imperative to make sure that the development strategies adopted are for the benefit of the people and also not detrimental to the environment.
A significant aspect of this pact is the ‘Global Digital Compact’; this compact aims to address the regulation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its impact on society. It promises to ensure internet access for all individuals, schools, as well as hospitals.
It also aims at protecting data while respecting every individual’s rights and safety, alongside aiming to establish an international scientific panel that manages AI technologies responsibly.
Another major component is recognizing climate change, which is one of the most pressing challenges of humanity at this moment. The issue thus emphasizes the urgent need to mitigate its impact and also calls for innovative financing mechanisms to encourage collaborative efforts among nations to transition towards sustainable practices.
YOUTH PARTICIPATION AND EMPOWERMENT
The summit emphasized the role of youth participation in decision-making processes at both national and international levels. The pact also included measures such as the formation of youth advisory groups, implementation of educational programs to raise awareness of rights, programmes ensuring representation of youth in decision-making forums, and providing resources and funding for youth initiatives. These are necessary to empower young people to act as contributors in shaping our future.
CHALLENGES TO IMPLEMENTATION
As we hold very ambitious goals for the future, there are certain levels of challenges that could hinder its implementation. One of the major challenges is the existing power dynamics within international relations.
Constant geopolitical tensions may limit the developing countries' representation in the decision-making processes, making it difficult for their voices to be heard and recognized in discussions, which might impact their futures. Thus, ensuring equitable representation in such critical situations is required to foster an inclusive global governance framework.
Effectively implementing diverse initiatives has been outlined by the fact that it requires robust coordination among various stakeholders, such as the government, the private sector as well as civil society organizations. The fragmented efforts of each of these may lead to hindrances in progress as well as reduced efficiency toward achieving the SDG goals.
Many of the developing countries also face financial constraints that limit their ability to implement sustainable development initiatives. Mobilizing adequate funding and resources will be very essential for changing these commitments into more tangible actions.
The success of the pact hinges on the political will at national and international levels. Leaders must also prioritize sustainable development initiatives over their short-term political gains.
PROMOTING INCLUSIVE MULTILATERALISM
Despite the challenges, the summit opened a new door of opportunities to forge a more inclusive as well as effective multilateralism that addresses the needs of both developed and developing countries, as well as the requirements of their populations. By promoting dialogue among various stakeholders as well as fostering collaboration across borders, the global space can work together to address all the shared issues.
In this process, civil society organizations play a very crucial role by advocating for marginalized communities and holding governments accountable for their commitments and roles. As stated by ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo, “Social justice through decent work must be the cornerstone of a modernized multilateral system,” highlighting the need for a fair and inclusive global governance structure that benefits all.
The summit focuses on this inclusivity, underlining the importance of engaging civil society in the process of decision-making. The local communities will proactively aim at implementing sustainable development initiatives and also empower grassroots movements and local leaders to enhance their capacity to address these pressing issues effectively.
The summit highlighted that international cooperation is essential for addressing issues like climate change, health crises, and security threats that transcend national borders. Collaborative efforts may lead to innovative solutions that can benefit all nations.
FOCUS ON POVERTY ALLEVIATION
Thus, the key focus areas remain; poverty alleviation is at the cornerstone of efforts aimed at ensuring sustainable development. Conflict-resolution strategies that include measures such as the provision of education, healthcare, and enhancement of economic opportunities to the poor are critical for the emancipation of their suffering.
Climate change interventions are also protective of certain livelihoods and ensure restoration of our ecosystem which is vital for the well-being of the people. Climate change necessitates urgent action from all nations, compelling them to transition swiftly and effectively to renewable energy sources and adopt sustainable land-use practices.
These goals must be acted upon without any delay for there are serious consequences that await any inaction, especially with regards to poverty and the inequality that will be created. Investments in clean technology not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions but also promote low-carbon economic development through job creation in the green economy segments.
GENDER EQUALITY INITIATIVES
There exists significant consensus around gender equality as a basic human right, as well as a key to achieving sustainable development. The Pact in this regard makes the following specific provisions for education, and the economic and political empowerment of women and girls as it is essential, for the development of the society as a whole.
Youth Engagement was also identified as one of the major areas of focus during the summit. When young people are given the chance to positively influence decisions and are given the resources to express their concerns in a parliamentary way, they can be recognized as agents of positive change for the country.
Young is important in bringing new ideas onto the global stage so that all the difficulties faced by the world do not get any worse for future generations.
CONCLUSION: COLLECTIVE EFFORTS FOR A BETTER FUTURE
Lastly, the agreement to adopt this ‘Pact for the Future’ at the Summit of the Future 2024 organised by the United Nations is aimed at dealing with the increasing complexity of problems on a global scale through collective efforts. This framework intends to build a better world that is fair to all by addressing issues of sustainable development, peacebuilding, technological progress, mobilization of youth, and the transformation of global governance systems in operation.
As great as they may be, these aspirations are challenged by concrete political, financial, organizational and accountability-related issues. As countries strive to progress beyond this summit, the will of all sectors: the state, civil society, and private sector, should go beyond rhetoric towards providing results for the present and future generations.
In this age of dramatic change that poses both threats and possibilities to many, working in harmony with each other will be a requirement if humanity is to aspire to a much more optimistic environment where everyone’s dignity and safety are guaranteed alongside sustainability.
BY ISHITA SHARMA
TEAM GEOSTRATA
Crucial!
Precisely analysed. Well written!