UN General Assembly adopts the Pact for the Future

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United Nations – The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the Pact for the Future Sunday, September 22, 2024 at the Summit of the Future. The pact between Heads of State and Governments of UN member states consists of 56 pledges to take action to protect the needs and interests of current and future generations which are facing climate change, crisis and conflict gripping the globe.

Antonio Guterres, Secretary General of the UN, in his opening remarks at the Summit  emphasized the urgent need to bring multilateralism back, and the need for the Summit of the Future “because our world is heading off the rails” for lack of resources that could bring opportunities and hope.

Adopting the Pact and its annexes was an act of unlocking the door by the international community, he said, adding, “Now it is our common responsibility to walk through it.”  Urging member states to follow the Pact with action, he said, “We stand and fall not by adopting agreements but by our actions and their impact on the lives of the people we serve”.

Guterres stressed the urgency of reforming the Security Council saying it had outdated structure and lacked credibility as it no longer addresses today’s economic challenges, including debt and climate action, he said.  Underscoring the urgent need for reforms, he said, “We cannot wait for perfect conditions.” Now is the time for decisive action to make international cooperation more networked, fair and inclusive, he said.

Guterres introduced the Pact for the Future, the Global Digital Compact and the Declaration on Future Generations, calling them steps towards more effective, inclusive, networked multilateralism. He noted that the Pact and its two annexes were “pathways to new possibilities”, including reforms to the Security Council and international financial architecture.

Sustainable Development 2030 Agenda is the first commitment in the Pact, agreeing to bold, ambitious, accelerated, just and transformative actions, and concentrating efforts to eradicate poverty. In support of that Sustainable Development Goal (SDG), the Assembly pledged to close financing gap in developing countries.

A major commitment of the Pact is reforming the Security Council and making it more representative, transparent, democratic and accountable. The Pact also contains pledges for gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls, and for promoting, protecting and respecting the human rights of all young people.

The Global Digital Compact annex of the Pact aims to achieve an inclusive, open, safe and secure digital space that respects, protects and promotes human rights by closing all digital divides and fostering international governance of artificial intelligence.  The Declaration on Future Generations annex of the Pact aims to promote international stability, peace and security through actions.

The President of the UN General Assembly, Philémon Yang, emphasized the need to ensure a future grounded in justice, inclusion and equity, with peace transcending absence of conflict. He said that meaningful progress requires that all voices are heard and that all nations, regardless of size or wealth, have a seat at the table.

The Pact’s cofacilitator, Olaf Scholz, Chancellor of Germany,  also urged the Assembly to take steps towards a more peaceful, fairer world. He described the Pact as a compass pointing towards cooperation instead of conflict. He said the Pact shows determination to restore international justice. Cofacilitator Nangolo Mbumba, President of Namibia, spoke about choosing between the two roads of conflict and destruction and of peace and prosperity.

UN youth representatives Ghanim Mohammed Al Muftah from Qatar; Niria Alicia Garcia from the US; and Monicah Malith, a youth refugee from South Sudan spoke in favor of the Pact of Future. Other speakers included the representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the representative of the World Health Organization (WHO), and the representative of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).The representative of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) said the Pact sends a powerful message to the world that our future is digital and that we can and must write it together.

Representatives from more than 70 countries stressed need for renewed action to meet the targets set by the international community. Sustainable financing for development, investment in women and youth and a more-representative United Nations were also discussed.