Multilateral Solutions for a Better Tomorrow

In response to major global shocks, the Summit of the Future presents a unique opportunity for nations to come together, reaffirm shared principles, and address gaps in global governance. The event, scheduled for September 22-23, 2024, aims to enhance cooperation on critical challenges, reinvigorate the multilateral system, and build a more effective global framework aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the United Nations Charter.

Background and Purpose

Marking the 75th Anniversary of the United Nations in June 2020, Member States declared 12 overarching commitments and requested the Secretary-General's recommendations for addressing current and future challenges. In response, the Secretary-General presented "Our Common Agenda" in September 2021, emphasizing the need for urgent implementation of the SDGs and proposing a Summit of the Future. The General Assembly welcomed this proposal, setting the stage for the summit to be preceded by a ministerial meeting in 2023.

Areas of Focus

While Member States will ultimately determine the summit's outcome, the Secretary-General has outlined an ambitious agenda for consideration. Key areas include:

1. Account for the Future: Take practical steps to consider the long-term impact of decisions, fulfilling commitments to future generations.

2. Better Respond to Global Shocks: Develop a robust international response playbook for complex global shocks, utilizing the Secretary-General's convening power through an Emergency Platform.

3. Meaningfully Include Young People: Systematically involve young people in global decision-making processes.

4. Measure Human Progress Effectively: Agree on metrics beyond GDP to guide decisions on debt relief, funding, and international cooperation, considering vulnerability, well-being, and sustainability.

5. Vision of Digital Technology: Formulate a vision of digital technology as a driver for human progress, maximizing benefits while minimizing harm.

6. Integrity in Public Information: Achieve an inclusive and safe information ecosystem, particularly online, potentially through a code of conduct.

7. Reform International Financial Architecture: Ensure more effective and fair outcomes, particularly for the Global South, aligning with SDGs, debt sustainability, a global financial safety net, and more.

8. Outer Space Sustainability: Advance the peaceful and sustainable use of outer space, updating norms for its peaceful and secure utilization.

9. New Peace Agenda: Update the understanding of threats and adapt tools to prevent and manage hostilities in various domains – land, sea, space, and cyberspace.

10. Transform Education: Bring about a fundamental shift in how education is perceived, addressing purpose, learning environments, teaching practices, digital transformation, investment, and multilateral support for quality education.

11. UN 2.0: Adapt UN practices in data, communications, innovation, strategic foresight, performance, and results to better support global challenges and the future.

The Summit of the Future is poised to be a pivotal moment, shaping a collective commitment to navigate the challenges of tomorrow through strengthened multilateral collaboration.