Reflection on the Summit of the Future and
High-level General Debate of the 79th UN General Assembly
Reflection on the Summit of the Future and High-level General Debate of the 79th UN General Assembly:
UN Headquarters, New York
Representing ESJF, a UN ECOSOC-accredited NGO, Sung attended the Summit of the Future and the General Debate from Sept. 20 to 24. The following is her reflection on those events.
Summit of the Future
Background: In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, which coincided with the 75th anniversary of the UN, Member States pledged to strengthen global governance for present and future challenges. They requested that Secretary-General António Guterres report back with recommendations that considered challenges faced by current and future generations. His 2021 response, the Our Common Agenda report, included recommendations across four broad areas: 1) A social contract; 2) Thinking about the future; 3) All countries working together; and 4) Using the United Nations to help solve problems. As a follow-up to Our Common Agenda, the Summit of the Future was held from Sept. 20–23, 2024.
The summit’s Action Days engaged more than 4,000 people—including youth, civil society organization members, and world leaders—in person at the Summit of the Future, which convened meetings and side events on and off the UN Headquarters. During the course of two Action Days, I heard directly and indirectly that some youth participants felt like they were being youth-washed. They said the process of drafting the Pact for the Future, for example, didn’t involve enough youth delegate voices. It seemed ironic that at the event where youth leadership was strongly respected and encouraged, some youth felt underrepresented and less heard. Notably, in a live poll conducted during the Summit, only 3 percent of the 669 youth participants said they felt they had direct power in shaping the Pact’s agenda. While their high levels of enthusiasm added much to the Summit of the Future, it was surprising to see some youth attendees focusing on social media and eating chips during the plenary session.
After adopting the Pact, many world leaders expressed urgency to reform the Security Council and the significance of peace, security, stability, climate justice, and multilateral cooperation. Digital justice and safety were among other important issues. Reforming the Security Council was one of the most frequently mentioned issues. In his opening remarks, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said the Security Council “is eroding” in credibility due to its outdated structure. Olaf Scholz, Chancellor of Germany, a co-facilitator of the SotF, said that the Pact for the Future can “serve as a compass towards cooperation instead of conflict.” He added, “History will judge Member States if they do not commit to the plan at hand.” President of Namibia (and SotF co-facilitator) Nangolo Mbumba noted that this summit presented a historic opportunity, stating that “We need the UN.” Like many others, he underscored the need to reform the Security Council. Brazilian President Lula da Silva echoed the same message, emphasizing that “the legitimacy of the Security Council shrinks every time it applies double standards or remains silent in the face of atrocities.” Many pointed out Africa’s lack of inclusion in the Security Council. President Lula urged reforming the Security Council to recognize the urgent need to make it “more representative, inclusive, transparent, efficient, effective, democratic, and accountable.”
A need for more concrete action plans and accountability surfaced as shortcomings of the Pact, a common problem for the UN. Despite its limitations, many youth attendees seemed to have been encouraged by other youth and older advocates and showed support for commitments to promoting peace, justice, and accountability today and tomorrow. It was evident that the youth wanted to be engaged. Continued interactive dialogue and engagement opportunities among intergenerational groups with a focus on listening to youth from diverse backgrounds and needs would be critical. The Pact for the Future is a blueprint for the future that can secure peace, tackle environmental threats, and addresses many problems, especially those that will disproportionally impact the younger generation. However, it remains no more than a document with great ideas unless it’s acted upon and Member States are held accountable.
General Debate of the 79th UN General Assembly
A day after the Summit of the Future ended, the high-level General Debate of the 79th UN General Assembly ran from Sept. 24–28, concluding on the 30th. This year’s theme is “Leaving no one behind: acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development and human dignity for present and future generations.”
A day prior, Israel struck Lebanon, killing at least 558 people and wounding at least 1,835, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry. During the first three addresses at the General Debate I was able to attend, three speakers stressed immediate cease-fires in war zones. In his opening address, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said that a growing number of governments and others feel entitled to a “get out of jail free” card and that the international community must mobilize for “the beginning of an irreversible process towards a two-State solution.” He asked, “How could the world accept a one-State future in which a large number of Palestinians would be included without any freedom, rights or dignity?”
Among other critical issues, he talked about rising inequalities as a driver of unsustainability and a stain on our collective conscience. He said, “Of the world’s poorest 75 countries, one third are worse off today than they were five years ago. During that same period, the five richest men in the world have more than doubled their wealth. And the top 1 percent of people on Earth own 43 percent of all global financial assets.”
Turning to current conflicts, President of the General Assembly Philemon Yang called for an immediate ceasefire in all these conflict settings.
The third speaker, Brazilian President Lula da Silva, noted that conflicts and military budgets have increased as “the use of force, not supported by international law, is becoming the rule.” He added, “What began as a terrorist action by fanatics against innocent Israeli civilians has become a collective punishment for the entire Palestinian people.” He continued to say, “The right to defense has become the right to vengeance, which prevents an agreement for the release of hostages and postpones the ceasefire.” Brazil will host the 30th UN Conference on Climate Change (COP 30) in 2025.
From my five days at the UN Headquarters to attend the Summit of the Future and the General Debate, I realized we have a long way to go to make our common agenda “common” to many. However, despite limitations and challenges, the Summit of the Future served as a significant global platform that needs to continue.
Submitted by Sung Sohn
UN Headquarters, New York
Representing ESJF, a UN ECOSOC-accredited NGO, Sung attended the Summit of the Future and the General Debate from Sept. 20 to 24. The following is her reflection on those events.
Summit of the Future
Background: In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, which coincided with the 75th anniversary of the UN, Member States pledged to strengthen global governance for present and future challenges. They requested that Secretary-General António Guterres report back with recommendations that considered challenges faced by current and future generations. His 2021 response, the Our Common Agenda report, included recommendations across four broad areas: 1) A social contract; 2) Thinking about the future; 3) All countries working together; and 4) Using the United Nations to help solve problems. As a follow-up to Our Common Agenda, the Summit of the Future was held from Sept. 20–23, 2024.
The summit’s Action Days engaged more than 4,000 people—including youth, civil society organization members, and world leaders—in person at the Summit of the Future, which convened meetings and side events on and off the UN Headquarters. During the course of two Action Days, I heard directly and indirectly that some youth participants felt like they were being youth-washed. They said the process of drafting the Pact for the Future, for example, didn’t involve enough youth delegate voices. It seemed ironic that at the event where youth leadership was strongly respected and encouraged, some youth felt underrepresented and less heard. Notably, in a live poll conducted during the Summit, only 3 percent of the 669 youth participants said they felt they had direct power in shaping the Pact’s agenda. While their high levels of enthusiasm added much to the Summit of the Future, it was surprising to see some youth attendees focusing on social media and eating chips during the plenary session.
After adopting the Pact, many world leaders expressed urgency to reform the Security Council and the significance of peace, security, stability, climate justice, and multilateral cooperation. Digital justice and safety were among other important issues. Reforming the Security Council was one of the most frequently mentioned issues. In his opening remarks, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said the Security Council “is eroding” in credibility due to its outdated structure. Olaf Scholz, Chancellor of Germany, a co-facilitator of the SotF, said that the Pact for the Future can “serve as a compass towards cooperation instead of conflict.” He added, “History will judge Member States if they do not commit to the plan at hand.” President of Namibia (and SotF co-facilitator) Nangolo Mbumba noted that this summit presented a historic opportunity, stating that “We need the UN.” Like many others, he underscored the need to reform the Security Council. Brazilian President Lula da Silva echoed the same message, emphasizing that “the legitimacy of the Security Council shrinks every time it applies double standards or remains silent in the face of atrocities.” Many pointed out Africa’s lack of inclusion in the Security Council. President Lula urged reforming the Security Council to recognize the urgent need to make it “more representative, inclusive, transparent, efficient, effective, democratic, and accountable.”
A need for more concrete action plans and accountability surfaced as shortcomings of the Pact, a common problem for the UN. Despite its limitations, many youth attendees seemed to have been encouraged by other youth and older advocates and showed support for commitments to promoting peace, justice, and accountability today and tomorrow. It was evident that the youth wanted to be engaged. Continued interactive dialogue and engagement opportunities among intergenerational groups with a focus on listening to youth from diverse backgrounds and needs would be critical. The Pact for the Future is a blueprint for the future that can secure peace, tackle environmental threats, and addresses many problems, especially those that will disproportionally impact the younger generation. However, it remains no more than a document with great ideas unless it’s acted upon and Member States are held accountable.
General Debate of the 79th UN General Assembly
A day after the Summit of the Future ended, the high-level General Debate of the 79th UN General Assembly ran from Sept. 24–28, concluding on the 30th. This year’s theme is “Leaving no one behind: acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development and human dignity for present and future generations.”
A day prior, Israel struck Lebanon, killing at least 558 people and wounding at least 1,835, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry. During the first three addresses at the General Debate I was able to attend, three speakers stressed immediate cease-fires in war zones. In his opening address, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said that a growing number of governments and others feel entitled to a “get out of jail free” card and that the international community must mobilize for “the beginning of an irreversible process towards a two-State solution.” He asked, “How could the world accept a one-State future in which a large number of Palestinians would be included without any freedom, rights or dignity?”
Among other critical issues, he talked about rising inequalities as a driver of unsustainability and a stain on our collective conscience. He said, “Of the world’s poorest 75 countries, one third are worse off today than they were five years ago. During that same period, the five richest men in the world have more than doubled their wealth. And the top 1 percent of people on Earth own 43 percent of all global financial assets.”
Turning to current conflicts, President of the General Assembly Philemon Yang called for an immediate ceasefire in all these conflict settings.
The third speaker, Brazilian President Lula da Silva, noted that conflicts and military budgets have increased as “the use of force, not supported by international law, is becoming the rule.” He added, “What began as a terrorist action by fanatics against innocent Israeli civilians has become a collective punishment for the entire Palestinian people.” He continued to say, “The right to defense has become the right to vengeance, which prevents an agreement for the release of hostages and postpones the ceasefire.” Brazil will host the 30th UN Conference on Climate Change (COP 30) in 2025.
From my five days at the UN Headquarters to attend the Summit of the Future and the General Debate, I realized we have a long way to go to make our common agenda “common” to many. However, despite limitations and challenges, the Summit of the Future served as a significant global platform that needs to continue.
Submitted by Sung Sohn