World leaders have adopted a “Pact for the Future” at the 2024 UN Summit for the Future, reaffirming their commitments to several pressing international objectives. This pact, which the President of the General Assembly described as “a call to action,” aims to reinforce the principles of international law, the goals laid out in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the promise of the United Nations Charter to shield future generations from wars. For more details on the summit, click here.
The Pact for the Future received significant global backing, with 143 votes in favor, seven against, and 15 abstentions. It is structured around 56 actions grouped under five primary themes:
- Sustainable Development and Financing
- International Peace and Security
- Science, Technology, Innovation, and Digital Cooperation
- Youth and Future Generations
- Transforming Global Governance
Central to the pact are commitments to reforming the UN Security Council. These reforms aim to address the potential restriction of veto powers and expand the council’s membership to better represent the international system. Presently, the five permanent members of the Security Council – China, France, Russia, the US, and the UK – possess veto powers allowing them to block resolutions. Concerns about the veto power were previously aired during an assembly debate in April 2024, where a former UN Assembly President indicated that the increased use of the veto could significantly impede both the council’s and the UN’s ability to address peace and security matters effectively (read more).
Moreover, the pact includes commitments to bolster adherence to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These goals, adopted by UN member states in 2015, target global health, justice, and prosperity but have faced criticism due to slow progress. A recent 2024 report showed that only 17 percent of the 169 targets are on track to be achieved by 2030 (full report). The new pact seeks to address these deficiencies through various measures, including closing financing gaps in developing countries and removing barriers to equality for women and girls.
An annex to the pact, the Global Digital Compact, recognizes the specific threats posed by emerging technologies and underscores the necessity of human oversight and international cooperation to bridge digital divides. The “Declaration on Future Generations” is another annex that outlines guiding principles for building a “better future for generations to come.” This declaration tasks the Secretary-General with presenting a report on its implementation at a high-level plenary meeting during the 83rd session of the General Assembly.