World governments on Sunday adopted a sweeping package of reforms at the United Nations Summit of the Future, concluding an ambitious U.N. effort to confront a range of 21st-century challenges, from climate change to growing global poverty, inequality, and the application of artificial intelligence in wartime, which once existed in the realm of science fiction when the U.N. was founded at the end of World War II.
The achievement was welcomed with a rousing round of applause from delegates and celebratory speeches throughout that day by their leaders.
“Our world is going through a time of turbulence and a period of transition,” U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres said after the reforms were passed. “But we cannot wait for perfect conditions,” he added. “We must take the first decisive steps towards updating and reforming international cooperation to make it more networked, fair, and inclusive — now. And today, thanks to your efforts, we have.”
About the author
Colum Lynch
Colum Lynch is an award-winning reporter and Senior Global Reporter for Devex. He covers the intersection of development, diplomacy, and humanitarian relief at the United Nations and beyond. Prior to Devex, Colum reported on foreign policy and national security for Foreign Policy Magazine and the Washington Post. Colum was awarded the 2011 National Magazine Award for digital reporting for his blog Turtle Bay. He has also won an award for groundbreaking reporting on the U.N.’s failure to protect civilians in Darfur.
