By: Deeksha Aggarwal
International Lawyer
The Summit of the Future 2024, held on 22nd and 23rd September as a part of the United Nations General Assembly, was a landmark moment for international governance, diplomacy and law, reflecting the global community’s commitment to addressing 21st-century challenges. Central to this effort was the adoption of the Pact for the Future, a broad agreement focused on reforming multilateral institutions and accelerating global action on issues such as climate change, digital governance, peace and security. As per the press release, “This Pact is the culmination of an inclusive, years-long process to adapt international cooperation to the realities of today and the challenges of tomorrow.” (Press Release, General Assembly – GA/12641, 2 October 2024)
The Summit of the Future is being considered ‘ground-breaking’ as “the agreement of the Pact is a strong statement of countries’ commitment to the United Nations, the international system and international law.” It is believed that the Pact would lay the foundations for a sustainable, just and peaceful global order – for all peoples and nations. (Press Release, General Assembly – GA/12641, 2 October 2024)
The impact
The Pact is one of the most wide-ranging international agreements and has a couple of highlights such as focus on future generations, culture, sustainable futures, multilateralism and others. It has ripple effects such as ‘establishment of a UN Special Envoy for Future Generations’ which was announced at the Hamburg Sustainability Conference on 7th October, 2024. The call for establishing a UN Special Envoy for Future Generations is reinforced by The Pact for the Future as it advocates for the creation of similar offices at the national level and reflects upon the growing international recognition of intergenerational equity. The Declaration on Future Generations, which was also adopted at the Summit, promotes forward thinking approach to global governance. It suggests the idea that current decisions must account for their impact on future populations.
The Pact has further recognized that culture is integral to economic, social and environmental development policies. The Pact supports linguistic and cultural diversity in the digital space, particularly in creating safe, secure, and trustworthy AI systems. This acknowledgment of culture aligns with UNESCO’s 2021 Recommendation on AI Ethics, emphasizing the importance of ethical considerations in technological advancements.
A key outcome of the summit is the adoption of the Global Digital Compact, which establishes a non-binding framework for digital and AI governance. It is the first comprehensive global framework for digital cooperation. The Compact includes an agreement on a roadmap for global AI governance, through the establishment of an AI Scientific Panel, global policy dialogue on AI and exploration of the establishment of a Global Fund for AI capacity building. While ambitious, this Compact raises critical legal questions regarding enforcement and compliance under international law. The absence of binding legal obligations, particularly in the area of data governance and cybersecurity, underscores the need for future treaties to secure international cooperation on these issues.
Another key outcome of the Summit is the Pact resolving to make the multilateral system more effective. Talks about developing a consolidated reform model for the future, including a commitment to increase the representation of developing countries in Security Council were done and a reform in international financial architecture was discussed. It is good to note that this is not the first time a call is made on these necessary changes regarding existing current global governance structures.
Introduction of measures to reduce global disparities in science, technology and innovation was agreed upon and commitment by leaders was given to use science in policy-making, to support developing countries in achieving the SDGs. The summit highlighted the importance of aligning future actions with existing frameworks, such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In particular, the 2030 Agenda and the upcoming 2025 World Social Summit are expected to serve as key moments for reviewing progress by combining efforts, in an aligned manner.
Sustainable development was also discussed. The Pact for the Future reaffirms global commitments to climate action, particularly through accelerated efforts to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. It emphasizes the need for climate justice, recognizing the disproportionate impact of climate change on developing countries, and advocates for greater financial support for climate adaptation and mitigation. However, from a legal perspective, these commitments remain voluntary, leaving significant questions about how to enforce them under international environmental law.
Youth, taking the center stage, expansion and strengthening of youth participation in global decision making was agreed upon, empowering the Youth for Sustainable Futures. There is no doubt increasingly more spaces are emerging for youth voices and representation at the decision-making table.
Member States representation
At the summit, member states demonstrated their commitment to empowering youth in the green transition. During the side event titled “Empowering Youth for Sustainable Futures,” various countries shared initiatives aimed at equipping young people with the skills and opportunities necessary for a sustainable future. India highlighted its Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE) initiative, which integrates green education into school curricula and promotes sustainable consumer choices. Leena Nandan, Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, emphasized the need for strong advocacy and education systems that embed sustainability at their core. Cuba showcased its Tarea Vida project, which advances the circular economy and announced its commitment to join the Green Jobs for Youth Pact, focusing on creating green job opportunities for its youth. Armenia and Portugal underscored their commitment to educational reforms that equip young people with necessary green skills. Armenia is integrating green technologies into vocational training, while Portugal focuses on both technical and soft skills development for the green sector. Cyprus emphasized the importance of effective implementation mechanisms for national action plans and committed to conducting green skills assessments in various Asian countries to tailor solutions for green job integration. These initiatives highlight a collective drive among member states to support youth in navigating the green transition, ensuring they are equipped with the skills and opportunities needed to build a sustainable and inclusive future.
Challenges
The Pact for the Future addresses core diplomatic and legal challenges, particularly the tension between state sovereignty and global governance. The call for multilateral reforms, particularly within the UN Security Council, aims to address the underrepresentation of regions like Africa, Latin America, and Asia-Pacific. The summit’s outcomes reflect the need for legal reform within global institutions to ensure that governance frameworks are fit for modern challenges. Each of these changes require courage, the good will and commitment of strong leadership to effectively move ahead these decisions. At the same time, diplomatic tensions were evident, particularly with Russia and Argentina refusing to endorse the Pact. Russia’s opposition centered on sovereignty concerns related to digital governance, demonstrating the complexities of navigating global governance within a realist international relations framework. Argentina rejected the Pact for the Future over concerns about national sovereignty and economic freedom.
Digital sovereignty was another major concern. It is still a complex issue on how to balance global cooperation with national interests. Frustration at the slow pace of institutional reforms was expressed by countries from Africa and Latin America.
However, the biggest challenge is the implementation of the commitments made in The Pact. Since most the provisions are non-binding, ensuring compliance is going to be difficult, keeping in mind the diverging national interests and financial gaps of different countries. Especially with the ongoing geopolitical tensions, multilateral cooperation could be strained heavily.
There are several issues which still need a lot of discourse, clarifications and commitment. One such is ‘green transition and youth’ – engagement of youth to ensure national policies for climate change. This needs to be discussed with economic and resource availability in mind. Education and skill development play an important role. This could especially backfire if the youth is starving, unemployed, with no collective vision for the future.
Some aspects of The Pact require a significant amount of reflection. Who is the voice of the future generations? Among the numerous voices that are now being heard which are bifurcated, come from different contexts, which have experienced life differently, still have a distinction made amongst them, the parity of global north and global south can still be seen in a varied manner. This also raises a question of who is selecting these voices? How are we deciding that a particular young being is capable of sitting at the table with the decision makers, with a forward looking and non-biased voice? While this declaration is rightfully acknowledging that we must be learning from our past achievements and failures and their consequences, to ensure a more sustainable, just and equitable world for present and future generations and how the past, present and future are interconnected, it fails to recognize the gap between the present developed-developing-underdeveloped countries and the future developed-developing-underdeveloped countries. It also fails to take into account that the values, traditions and education which is being transmitted to the future generations, is going to shape the future developed-developing- underdeveloped countries. We further need to consider who is fighting for whose rights. It should be a point of notice that there was under representation of youth coming from the sinking islands at the Summit. It goes to show that those who are the most affected by climate change, are more often than not, not able to be in the forefront of the conversation about it.
Moreover, while youth is committed and have enough mechanisms to fight for climate justice in regions like Europe and America, there is no access to strong regional legal mechanisms, similar to European Court of Human Rights or Inter-American Court of Human Rights in Asia where youth can represent themselves. So, do they continue to be under-represented?
Earth Charter: A path forward
The Earth Charter can significantly contribute to the success of the Summit of the Future by providing a strong ethical framework centered on sustainability, social justice, and intergenerational responsibility. Its principles emphasize ecological integrity, equitable distribution of resources, and respect for human rights—all critical to achieving the goals of the summit. By advocating for environmental stewardship, participatory democracy, and cultural diversity, the Earth Charter can guide member states in implementing the Pact for the Future with a focus on long-term sustainability and ethical governance.
The Earth Charter can inspire collective action at both national and international levels to improve policy frameworks by emphasizing shared ethical principles and global cooperation. At the national level, the Charter encourages integrating sustainability into laws, education, and governance systems. Internationally, it pushes for binding global agreements, ensuring that countries work together to address climate change, resource equity, and intergenerational responsibility.
Countries can use the Earth Charter’s principles to shape domestic policy by embedding sustainability and social justice into education systems, legal structures, and economic policies. This ensures that laws are designed with both environmental protection and equitable resource distribution in mind. By aligning national laws with the Charter as a reference, countries can pursue a holistic approach to sustainable development.
On the global stage, the Charter encourages states to collaborate on binding international agreements that address climate action, biodiversity protection, and cultural diversity. It promotes international dialogue and cooperation, ensuring that policies crafted at the UN or other global forums prioritize collective well-being over individual state interests. The Charter’s emphasis on an integrated approach and shared responsibility could foster stronger commitments toward global environmental agreements and multilateral reforms, such as those needed for climate financing and digital governance.
Conclusion
The 2024 Summit of the Future laid the groundwork for significant global reforms in areas such as governance, digital cooperation, and environmental sustainability. The adoption of the Pact for the Future, the Global Digital Compact, and the Declaration on Future Generations signals the international community’s commitment to addressing pressing global challenges. However, these frameworks remain largely aspirational without binding mechanisms for compliance, even though the press release states “[The Pact]… makes clear commitments and achieves concrete deliverables on a range of issues,…”. The summit’s success will ultimately depend on strong political will, necessary legal reforms, and the development of robust enforcement systems to ensure meaningful implementation.
Incorporating the principles of the Earth Charter in new efforts of global and national governance frameworks offers clarity on the path forward and the underlying principles that these pivotal changes require, by emphasizing the importance of collective action, sustainability, and social justice. By aligning national and international policies with the Charter’s ethical framework, member states can foster long-term governance that addresses the needs of both present and future generations. This holistic approach can catalyze the creation of more inclusive, just, and sustainable global systems, ensuring that the ideals of the summit are realized in practice.
