When the COVID-19 pandemic forced us to lift our gaze — albeit briefly — governments resolved to ‘build back better,’ citizens demanded more and better global cooperation, and young people, faced with the prospect of a stolen future, called for measures to safeguard future generations.
In response, states agreed that 2024 would be a year of the future. There would be a Summit of the Future to adopt a “pact for the future” covering sustainable development — including efforts to accelerate the Sustainable Development Goals — and financing; peace and security; science, technology, and innovation and digital cooperation; youth and future generations; and transforming global governance.
States also agreed to adopt a global digital compact and pandemic treaty, while efforts such as the Bridgetown Initiative, V20 Accra-Marrakech Agenda, and the Paris Pact for People and Planet have raised expectations on climate and development finance, as well as reform of the global financial architecture.
About the author
Natalie Samarasinghe
Natalie Samarasinghe is global director of advocacy at the Open Society Foundations. Her previous roles include: CEO of the United Nations Association–U.K., speechwriter to the president of the U.N. General Assembly, chief of strategy for the U.N.’s 75th anniversary, and co-founder of the 1 for 7 Billion campaign for merit-based international appointments.
