The United Nations General Assembly has endorsed a comprehensive blueprint, known as the “Pact for the Future,” aimed at uniting the world’s increasingly divided nations to address the critical challenges of the 21st century. These challenges include climate change, artificial intelligence, escalating conflicts, growing inequality, and widespread poverty.
This 42-page document calls upon the leaders of the 193 U.N. member nations to turn their commitments into concrete actions that will improve the lives of over 8 billion people around the globe. The “Pact for the Future” was adopted during the opening session of the two-day “Summit of the Future,” convened by U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres.
In his opening remarks, Guterres emphasized the need to “bring multilateralism back from the brink,” highlighting the urgency of collective action. The pact outlines 56 specific actions targeting a wide range of issues, including eradicating poverty, mitigating climate change, achieving gender equality, promoting global peace, protecting civilians, and reinvigorating the multilateral system to capitalize on both current and future opportunities.
One of the central features of the pact is the commitment to reform the U.N. Security Council. This reform seeks to make the 15-member council more representative of the modern world by addressing the historical underrepresentation of Africa, the Asia-Pacific region, and Latin America. Africa, in particular, has long been without a permanent seat on the council, a situation that Guterres described as a “historical injustice” in need of redress.
In addition to Security Council reform, the pact is notable for being the first multilateral agreement supporting nuclear disarmament in over a decade. Guterres also pointed to commitments aimed at preventing an arms race in outer space and regulating the use of lethal autonomous weapons.
The pact is accompanied by two important annexes: the Global Digital Compact and the Declaration on Future Generations. The Global Digital Compact includes the first universally agreed framework for the international governance of artificial intelligence (AI). The compact commits world leaders to establishing an Independent International Scientific Panel within the U.N. to foster a better understanding of AI’s risks and opportunities. It also paves the way for a global dialogue on AI governance involving key stakeholders.
Addressing other global issues, the pact includes measures for mounting a coordinated response to complex shocks such as pandemics. Guterres praised the inclusion of a groundbreaking commitment by governments to engage with young people, ensuring their voices are heard and that they are actively involved in decision-making processes.
On human rights, the pact tackles issues such as the recent surge in misogyny and the rollback of women’s reproductive rights in various parts of the world. The U.N. chief underscored the pact’s commitment to removing the legal, social, and economic barriers that prevent women and girls from reaching their full potential in all aspects of life.
In his closing remarks, Guterres reminded global leaders that the pact is not merely about understanding each other, but about taking decisive action. “We have opened the door. It is now up to all of us to step through it. Because this is not just about understanding each other – it’s also about taking action. Today, I challenge you to take action,” he said.
The “Pact for the Future” represents a significant step forward in global cooperation, offering a roadmap to address some of the most pressing issues facing humanity today. However, the real test will be the willingness and ability of world leaders to follow through on their commitments and translate the blueprint into tangible outcomes that benefit all people.
