United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on the world’s nations Wednesday to set aside their differences and agree on a blueprint to address pressing global challenges, including conflicts, climate change, artificial intelligence, and the reform of global institutions. Guterres emphasized that failure to reach a consensus on the "Pact of the Future," now in its final negotiations, would be a "tragic" missed opportunity.
The Summit of the Future, scheduled for Sunday and Monday, aims to rally world leaders around the need for urgent reforms to the UN and global financial systems established after World War II. The summit will precede the UN General Assembly’s high-level meeting, which begins Tuesday. Discussions have centered on a 30-page draft of the Pact, which has undergone multiple revisions over the past months.
Guterres emphasized that while previous declarations outlined what needs to be done, this summit is focused on implementation. “In every area — from climate to AI — there is a serious problem of governance,” he said, explaining that the summit is about transforming global institutions to meet 21st-century challenges.
The current draft of the Pact includes 51 proposed actions, addressing issues from poverty eradication and gender equality to climate change and peacekeeping. It also advocates for reforming multilateral systems and strengthening international cooperation on new technologies like AI.
While many member states, including the U.S. and the European Union, have expressed support for the fourth draft, some nations, including Russia and Saudi Arabia, have raised objections on key issues such as climate language and reform of financial institutions. Despite these differences, Guterres remains optimistic, urging member states to finalize the Pact to ensure a future equipped to meet the challenges ahead.
The Summit of the Future, scheduled for Sunday and Monday, aims to rally world leaders around the need for urgent reforms to the UN and global financial systems established after World War II. The summit will precede the UN General Assembly’s high-level meeting, which begins Tuesday. Discussions have centered on a 30-page draft of the Pact, which has undergone multiple revisions over the past months.
Guterres emphasized that while previous declarations outlined what needs to be done, this summit is focused on implementation. “In every area — from climate to AI — there is a serious problem of governance,” he said, explaining that the summit is about transforming global institutions to meet 21st-century challenges.
The current draft of the Pact includes 51 proposed actions, addressing issues from poverty eradication and gender equality to climate change and peacekeeping. It also advocates for reforming multilateral systems and strengthening international cooperation on new technologies like AI.
While many member states, including the U.S. and the European Union, have expressed support for the fourth draft, some nations, including Russia and Saudi Arabia, have raised objections on key issues such as climate language and reform of financial institutions. Despite these differences, Guterres remains optimistic, urging member states to finalize the Pact to ensure a future equipped to meet the challenges ahead.
