Multilateralism and Future Generations: Inside the UN’s Pact for the Future
The adoption of the “Pact for the Future” by the United Nations General Assembly represents a bold step toward addressing the most urgent global challenges of our time, with a clear focus on securing the needs of future generations. In a world marked by ongoing crises — climate change, digital inequality, and geopolitical tensions — the pact outlines a framework for a more inclusive, effective, and networked form of multilateralism.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has long called for reforms to the multilateral system, which has come under increasing strain in recent years. The Pact for the Future reflects his vision of a more robust and interconnected global governance system, one that can respond to the challenges of a rapidly changing world. The pact covers a wide array of themes, including peace and security, sustainable development, digital cooperation, human rights, and climate change, laying out 56 broad actions that countries have pledged to achieve.
One of the most significant aspects of the pact is its emphasis on protecting future generations. Leaders from around the world gathered at the UN Summit of the Future to discuss the critical need to safeguard the interests of those who will inherit the world in the coming decades. The pact emphasizes that current policies and actions must be guided by a long-term vision, ensuring that future generations are not left to grapple with the consequences of today’s crises. This includes addressing environmental degradation, resource depletion, and digital inequality.
The inclusion of an annex on digital cooperation highlights the UN’s recognition of the growing importance of technology in shaping the future. As the digital age continues to evolve, countries are increasingly grappling with issues such as cybersecurity, misinformation, and the digital divide. The pact’s annex calls for a responsible and sustainable approach to digital governance, ensuring that technological advancements benefit everyone while protecting against exploitation and harm.
However, despite the positive reception of the Pact for the Future, the negotiations were not without challenges. Russia, backed by allies including Belarus, North Korea, Iran, Nicaragua, and Syria, attempted to introduce an amendment emphasizing the principle of “non-interference in the internal affairs of states.” This amendment was ultimately rejected, with many nations expressing frustration at what they saw as an attempt to derail the process. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, a co-sponsor of the text, criticized Russia’s move, stating that it was “somewhat irritating” that they sought to “stop the whole process.”
While the pact itself is non-binding, its adoption signals a renewed global commitment to multilateralism. As Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio noted, the pact represents a “source of hope and inspiration” for developing nations, many of which have been disproportionately affected by global crises. Developing countries have been vocal in their demands for more equitable access to financial resources, particularly in the context of climate change. The pact addresses this issue, calling for reforms to international financial institutions that would make it easier for developing nations to secure preferential financing.
Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley has been a key advocate for these reforms, arguing that the current global governance system reinforces inequality. She has criticized the division between “first-class and second-class citizens” in the international order and called for a more inclusive approach to governance that