The United Nations General Assembly on Sunday adopted the “Pact for the Future,” aimed at tackling 21st-century challenges such as climate change, conflict, and human rights. The agreement was approved by consensus at the UN headquarters in New York, though a small group of seven nations, led by Russia, unsuccessfully attempted to introduce a last-minute amendment.
“The Pact for the Future has been adopted by member countries by consensus at UN Headquarters in New York. The adoption will help pave the way for greater international cooperation for #OurCommonFuture,” the UN official account posted on social media platform X.
NEWS: The Pact for the Future has been adopted by member countries by consensus at UN Headquarters in New York.
The adoption will help pave the way for greater international cooperation for #OurCommonFuture. pic.twitter.com/JnennVi2Jb
— United Nations (@UN) September 22, 2024
The Pact addresses various themes such as peace and security, sustainable development, climate change, digital cooperation, human rights, gender equality, youth, future generations, and the reform of global governance. Two key annexes, the Global Digital Compact and the Declaration on Future Generations, were also adopted by UN members. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who organized the ‘Summit of the Future,’ called the pact a landmark agreement and described it as a “step-change towards more effective, inclusive, networked multilateralism.”
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“We are here to bring multilateralism back from the brink,” Guterres said.
During his address, Guterres explained that he convened the Summit of the Future “because 21st-century challenges require 21st-century solutions” and emphasized the need for “tough decisions to get back on track.” Acknowledging the turbulent and transitional period the world is facing, Guterres added, “We cannot wait for perfect conditions.”
“We must take the first decisive steps towards updating and reforming international cooperation to make it more networked, fair and inclusive now, and today, thanks to your efforts, we have,” said the UN Secretary General.
In the final version of the pact, world leaders committed to strengthening the multilateral system to “keep pace with a changing world” and “protect the needs and interests of current and future generations” facing “persistent crisis.” The pact outlines 56 “actions,” including promises to uphold multilateralism, the UN Charter, and peacekeeping efforts. It also calls for reforms to global financial institutions and the UN Security Council, along with stronger measures to address climate change, promote disarmament, and guide the development of artificial intelligence (AI).
An annex to the Pact, the Global Digital Compact, sets out principles for the international regulation of AI and aims to create an open and human-centered digital future. Additionally, the Declaration on Future Generations emphasizes the importance of considering future generations in decision-making processes.
During his remarks at the Summit of the Future, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated, “The Pact for the Future, the Global Digital Compact, and the Declaration on Future Generations open the door to new opportunities and untapped possibilities.” Meanwhile, General Assembly President Philemon Yang remarked that the Pact would “lay the foundations for a sustainable, just, and peaceful global order – for all peoples and nations.”
Russia criticized the pact, arguing that countries dissatisfied with the agreement were not given enough opportunity for further negotiation. Russia’s First Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Dmitry Polyansky, expressed his discontent on X, stating, “Regrettably, there is nothing good that today the United Nations adopted a Pact for the Future. The United Nations had infringed upon its own principles to pander to a group of delegations from the ‘beautiful garden,’ who have usurped the talks from the very beginning. And the majority from the ‘jungle,’ like a herd, could not find courage enough to protest and defend their rights. This is they who will bear responsibility for the consequences.”
Russia introduced an amendment emphasizing the “principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of states” and urged the UN to avoid duplicating efforts. The amendment was backed by Belarus, North Korea, Iran, Nicaragua, and Syria, according to Voice of America. However, the Democratic Republic of the Congo quickly submitted a motion to reject Russia’s proposal, which was accepted by a majority of 143 votes in the UN General Assembly.
At the Summit’s opening, Guterres stated, “Conflicts are raging and multiplying, from the Middle East to Ukraine and Sudan, with no end in sight. Our collective security system is threatened by geopolitical divides, nuclear posturing, and the development of new weapons and theatres of war. Resources that could bring opportunities and hope are invested in death and destruction.” He further criticized the current state of the UN Security Council, saying, “The United Nations Security Council is outdated, and its authority is eroding. Unless its composition and working methods are reformed, it will eventually lose all credibility.”
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