UN adopts Future Pact

Summit of the Future, dedicated to finding multilateral solutions for a better tomorrow, was held in New York as part of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly. Heads of state and government adopted the Pact for the Future, an ambitious document that covers global challenges and aims to improve the lives of current and future generations, Kazinform News Agency correspondent reports, citing UN.

The Pact document states that without a change in the course of the global community, we will face constant crises and decline. However, along with the challenges, there are also new opportunities. Rapid global transformations can become the basis for progress, and scientific advances will help build a world in which security, justice, equality and prosperity will be available to all.

Action plan and prospects

The Pact covers a broad range of issues including peace and security, sustainable development, climate change, digital cooperation, human rights, gender, youth and future generations, and the transformation of global governance. It sets out 56 actions by states. Key deliverables in the Pact include:

In the area of peace and security

· The most progressive and concrete commitment to Security Council reform since the 1960s, with plans to improve the effectiveness and representativeness of the Council, including by redressing the historical under-representation of Africa as a priority.

· The first multilateral recommitment to nuclear disarmament in more than a decade, with a clear commitment to the goal of totally eliminating nuclear weapons.

· Agreement to strengthen international frameworks that govern outer space, including a clear commitment to prevent an arms race in outer space and the need to ensure all countries can benefit from the safe and sustainable exploration of outer space.

· Steps to avoid the weaponization and misuse of new technologies, such as lethal autonomous weapons, and affirmation that the laws of war should apply to many of these new technologies.

On sustainable development, climate and financing for development

· The entire Pact is designed to turbo-charge implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.

· The most detailed agreement ever at the United Nations on the need for reform of the international financial architecture so that it better represents and serves developing countries.

· Improving how we measure human progress, going beyond GDP to capturing human and planetary wellbeing and sustainability.

· A commitment to consider ways to introduce a global minimum level of taxation on high-net-worth individuals.

· On climate change, confirmation of the need to keep global temperature rise to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels and to transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

On digital cooperation

The Global Digital Compact, annexed to the Pact, is the first comprehensive global framework for digital cooperation and AI governance.

At the heart of the Compact is a commitment to design, use, and govern technology for the benefit of all, with world leaders pledging to connect all people, schools, and hospitals to the Internet, anchor digital cooperation in human rights and international law, and make the online space safe for all, especially children, through actions by governments, tech companies, and social media.

The Compact also addresses the governance of Artificial Intelligence, including the creation of an International Scientific Panel and a Global Policy Dialogue on AI, while promoting more open and accessible data through agreements on open-source data, models, and standards. Significantly, this marks the first global commitment to data governance, placing it on the UN agenda and requiring countries to take concrete actions by 2030.

Youth and future generations

· The first ever Declaration on Future Generations, with concrete steps to take account of future generations in our decision-making, including a possible envoy for future generations.

· A commitment to more meaningful opportunities for young people to participate in the decisions that shape their lives, especially at the global level.

Human rights and gender

· A strengthening of our work on human rights, gender equality and the empowerment of women.

· A clear call on the need to protect human rights defenders.

· Strong signals on the importance of engagement of other stakeholders in global governance, including local and regional governments, civil society, private sector and others.