Pact For the Future

The UN Pact for the Future

On September 22, 2024, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Pact for the Future, a comprehensive and forward-looking agreement aimed at revitalizing multilateralism and addressing the most pressing challenges of our time. This historic pact, developed after nine months of negotiations, covers critical areas including peace, sustainable development, climate change, and digital cooperation.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres described the pact as a "step-change towards more effective, inclusive, networked multilateralism," emphasizing the urgent need to reform global governance to meet current and future challenges.

This statement emphasizes the need not only to reform existing multilateral institutions like the United Nations but also to reshape the very foundations of international cooperation to meet both current and future global challenges.

Why the Pact for the Future Matters

The Pact for the Future is not just a document of aspirations—it is a call to action. It lays out 56 broad actions that countries have pledged to achieve in areas ranging from peace and security to human rights and digital inclusion. At the heart of this pact is a recognition that the multilateral system and its institutions must be updated to better reflect the realities of today’s world.

Traditionally, multilateralism has been dominated by national governments and often shaped by the interests of the most powerful countries. The vision of the Pact for the Future goes beyond merely redistributing power among nations with varying levels of development. Instead, the Pact for the Future aims to expand the circle of decision-makers to include not just governments, but also key non-state actors, such as the private sector, civil society, academia, and other stakeholders. This broader engagement is seen as vital to building a more just, equitable, and peaceful world.

A Renewed Commitment to Multilateralism

The Pact for the Future represents a renewed commitment to multilateralism, emphasizing the need for global cooperation to address the challenges of today and tomorrow. It recognizes that governments alone cannot solve the world’s problems and calls for a new beginning in how international institutions operate, stressing the importance of inclusivity, dialogue, and collaboration between governments, businesses, and civil society.

The broader engagement of non-state actors in global governance is essential for addressing the root causes of conflict, such as poverty and inequality. By working together, these stakeholders can implement policies and projects that reduce poverty, promote inclusive economic growth, and build resilient communities.

This multi-stakeholder approach to decision-making helps build a world that is not only more effective in solving global challenges, but also more peaceful and just. By ensuring that diverse voices are heard and included in governance processes, the Pact for the Future moves beyond traditional power dynamics and works toward a more equitable distribution of opportunities and resources globally.

By fostering stronger public-private partnerships and encouraging multi-stakeholder initiatives, the pact aims to create an environment where governments, businesses, and civil society can work together to address global challenges more effectively.

Bridging the Digital Divide.

A significant part of the Pact for the Future focuses on bridging the digital divide, especially between the Global North and the Global South. The rapid growth of technology has created a widening gap in access to information, communication technologies, and digital infrastructure, particularly in developing countries. This divide not only limits economic opportunities but also exacerbates inequalities in education, healthcare, and social inclusion.

The pact includes an annex on digital cooperation, which stresses the need to create a responsible and sustainable digital future. It recognizes that the digital divide undermines global stability, as those without access to digital resources are left behind in an increasingly connected world. Ensuring digital inclusion is seen as a critical factor in creating a more equitable, peaceful, and prosperous world.

By closing the digital divide, the pact envisions a world where technology serves as a force for good, driving innovation, improving livelihoods, and contributing to peace and stability.

Strengthening Global Cooperation for a Sustainable Future

The Pact for the Future reaffirms the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, emphasizing the need for swift and coordinated action to achieve their goals. It calls on the international community to "turbocharge" efforts to meet the SDGs, recognizing that progress has been uneven and slow in many areas. For many developing countries, the support of the private sector and civil society will be critical to scaling up efforts to meet these goals.

In particular, the pact stresses the need to help the Global South by:

• Providing technological, financial, and logistical support to ensure that developing countries have the resources they need to transition to green economies.
• Creating more equitable access to technology, particularly digital infrastructure, which can open up new opportunities for economic growth, education, and healthcare.
• Engaging young people in decision-making processes, ensuring that the future generation has a voice in shaping policies that will impact their world.

By addressing the digital divide, engaging the private sector, and empowering civil society, the pact provides a roadmap for creating a more just, sustainable, and peaceful world. However, the success of this pact will depend on the collective actions of nations and their ability to turn these commitments into tangible outcomes for future generations.