On Sunday, world leaders adopted the Pact for the Future, a significant declaration committing to concrete actions for a safer, more peaceful, sustainable, and inclusive world for future generations.
The Pact, along with its annexes - the Global Digital Compact and the Declaration on Future Generations - was adopted by consensus, despite a last-minute amendment proposal by some countries, including Russia, Iran, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), and Syria.
The proposed amendment aimed to include text calling for non-intervention in issues of national sovereignty and the primacy of intergovernmental deliberation, effectively diminishing the role of civil society and private sector interests. However, the 193-member Assembly decided not to act on the proposal, and it was rejected.
The Pact focuses on five broad areas: sustainable development, international peace and security, science and technology, youth and future generations, and transforming global governance. It emphasizes the urgent need for a shift, as multilateral financial institutions and even the United Nations have fallen short in addressing 21st-century problems.
By endorsing the Pact, UN Member States pledged, among other things, to:
- Turbocharge the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement on climate change, two landmark 2015 agreements that have seen halting progress and missed milestones
- Listen to young people and include them in decision-making, at the national and global levels
- Build stronger partnerships with civil society, the private sector, local and regional authorities and more
- Redouble efforts to build and sustain peaceful, inclusive and just societies and address the root causes of conflicts
- Protect all civilians in armed conflict
- Accelerate the implementation of our commitments on women, peace and security
According to the UN, the Global Digital Compact represents the first truly worldwide agreement on the international regulation of artificial intelligence (AI). It is based on the principle that technology should benefit everyone. The Compact outlines commitments to ensure that digital technologies contribute to sustainable development and human rights, while addressing risks such as digital divides, cybersecurity, and misuse of technology.
Its goal is to bridge the digital divide and ensure that AI technologies are used responsibly, fostering global cooperation on both AI capabilities and security threats. Governments are also required to establish an impartial worldwide Scientific Panel on AI and initiate an international conversation about AI governance within the UN.
The Declaration on Future Generations focuses on securing the well-being of future generations, emphasizing the need to include their interests in decision-making processes. It also emphasizes the importance of protecting the environment, promoting intergenerational equity, and ensuring that the long-term consequences of today's actions are considered.
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