Realising the ambition of the Summit of the Future

The interaction between new and protracted conflicts, the deepening climate crisis, growing inequalities, and the post- COVID-19 landscape has elevated the future of people and planet to the forefront of international politics. Effective global cooperation is increasingly critical to our survival but difficult to achieve in an atmosphere of mistrust, using outdated structures that no longer reflect today’s political and economic realities. 

On 22-23 September, world leaders gathered for the Summit of the Future in New York and adopted an inter-governmental agreement – the Pact for the Future – that also features two annexes: a Global Digital Compact and a Declaration on Future Generations. The Summit was seen as an opportunity to reinvigorate not only the structures, but also the trust needed for effective global governance, first and foremost, to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and promote peace. It was preceded by Action Days on 20-21 September, offering stakeholders – ranging from civil society and private sector to academia, parliamentarians, local and regional authorities and youth, an opportunity to make additional commitments. 

Throughout the process, the EU has been committed to an action-oriented Pact for the Future that contributes to fulfilling the vision of the 2030 Agenda and to revitalising the global partnership for sustainable development. The EU has also striven to ensure that the Pact leads humankind to a digital future that is human-centric and fully respectful of human rights. Despite the challenging times, the EU remains a leader in the efforts to build an inclusive, sustainable development. As such, the EU’s role in realising the ambition of the Summit of the Future will be crucial. 

Co-organised by the UN Office in Brussels and the Foundation for European Progressive Studies – FEPS, participants at the post-summit multistakeholder debriefing “Realising the ambition of the Summit of the Future” analysed the outcomes of the Summit of the Future. The event also served to reflect on the importance of the EU’s role in ensuring that the text is translated into concrete actions, and discuss its linkages with upcoming conferences and summits in 2025, including the fourth Conference on Financing for Development and the World Social Summit. 

For further information, please contact Christian Salm, Head of Office of the President (christian.salm@feps-europe.eu).