Analysis from GSI President Dennis J. Snower following the adoption of the Pact for the Future at the 2024 UN Summit of the Future.
This week world leaders converge on New York for the United Nations General Assembly meetings, which are given special prominence by the Summit of the Future. UN Secretary-General António Guterres deemed the Summit a “once-in-a-generation” opportunity to revive multilateralism and thus promote global problem-solving. The Summit is meant to forge a new international consensus to deliver a better global future. For this purpose, the global community of nations has endorsed the Pact for the Future, billed as a road map to enable the multilateral system to tackle the challenges of the current century.
The “Pact for the Future” makes interesting reading. It is a sweeping document covering five broad areas: 1. Sustainable development and finance, 2. International peace and security, 3. Science, technology and innovation, and digital cooperation, 4. Youth and future generations, and 5. Transforming global governance. The Pact outlines 56 “Actions,” which include many lofty goals. For example, Action 38 is “We will transform global governance and reinvigorate the multilateral system to tackle the challenges, and seize the opportunities, of today and tomorrow.” For this purpose, “We resolve to make the multilateral system, with the United Nations at its center, more … Effective and capable of delivering on our promises, with strengthened accountability, transparency and implementation mechanisms to ensure that our commitments are met and to rebuild trust in global institutions” and so on.
There can be no doubt that the UN has supported a multilateral system that has promoted peace and prosperity over the past 80 years. But there is also widespread recognition that this system urgently needs reform and that progress with regard to the UN’s central goals, summarized in the Sustainable Development Goals, has stalled. The proposals contained in the Pact for the Future give pause for reflection for the following reasons.
First, the Pact for the Future places the UN firmly at the center of a future multilateral world order. But the low-hanging fruit in global governance lies in bringing together different institutions and forums for global governance to give coherence to seriously fragmented multilateral decision-making. In particular, there is great potential in creating a system in which the UN and the G20 collaborate effectively in addressing a portfolio of well-defined global problems. Both organizations grappled with the same problems, but from different perspectives — the UN striving to give all nations a voice in global problem-solving and the G20 striving to connect a limited number of influential decision makers for the purpose of catalyzing action. While the UN is the central platform for international cooperation with a broad mandate across peace, security, human rights, and development, the G20 primarily focuses on international financial and economic stability. Combining these strengths can create synergies in tackling complex, multidimensional challenges. Here, for example, are three important areas where they can collaborate, though the list could be extended considerably.
Global health: The COVID-19 pandemic showcased the need for coordinated global action in health governance. While the World Health Organization (WHO), a UN agency, took the lead on health guidance, the G20 played a vital role in mobilizing financial resources for vaccine development and distribution, particularly through its support for the COVAX initiative. The G20 can work with the UN to strengthen global health systems and improve preparedness for future pandemics.
Climate action: Both the UN and G20 recognize the urgency of addressing climate change and advancing sustainable development. The UN, through mechanisms like the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, sets global norms. Meanwhile, the G20, whose members represent around 80% of global emissions, is critical for implementing these initiatives.
Inequality reduction: The UN, through the SDGs, has long advocated for reducing poverty and inequality. The G20, as the premier forum for economic governance, can work with the UN to address the financial challenges developing countries face and promote inclusive recovery. The G20’s “Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI),” which paused debt payments for the poorest countries during the pandemic, aligned with the UN’s call for debt relief. Both can collaborate further on comprehensive debt restructuring and enhancing global financial safety nets for developing countries.
The UN and G20 are natural partners in addressing global challenges, particularly those that straddle economic, environmental, health, and security domains. While the UN provides the normative frameworks and global legitimacy, the G20 has the economic influence and financial clout to drive implementation and enforcement. By working together more closely, these two organizations can amplify their impact on global governance. The Summit of the Future needs to highlight this opportunity for building a more peaceful, sustainable and prosperous world.