Preparations for the UN Summit of the Future
On 10 September 2021, UN Secretary-General Antònio Guterres presented his much anticipated Our Common Agenda (OCA) report. This landmark document provides over 90 recommendations for revitalising international commitment to multilateralism with the UN at its centre, as well as ‘turbo charging’ the implementation of Agenda 2030. While some recommendations are within the scope of the Secretary-General’s authority to implement, most will require a process of discussion and negotiation among Member States and other stakeholders.
Among the OCA recommendations, a Summit of the Future, was planned for 22-23 September 2024. At the Summit, world leaders adopted a Pact for the Future that includes a Global Digital Compact and a Declaration on Future Generations. This Pact is the culmination of a years-long process to adapt international cooperation to the realities of today and the challenges of tomorrow.
Developing the case for Australian action at the Summit of the Future: the briefs
In preparing for the Summit, the Initiative for Peacebuilding developed a series of briefing papers on the following six issues on the Summit Agenda.
The briefs can be accessed below.
- Impunity, Accountability and Respect for Human Rights and the Rule of Law by Professor Erika Feller AO FAIIA
- Luck Is Not a Strategy: It’s Time to Prohibit Nuclear Weapons by Gem Romuld, Tilman Ruff AO and Melissa Parke
- Rising to the Challenge: how Australia can Help Strengthen the UN Peacebuilding Commission by Russell Rollason AM, Adrian Morrice, Simon Richards and Jacob Berah
- Transform or Die: The Case for Reforming the UN Security Council by John Langmore AM and Ramesh Thakur
- Strengthening Australian Diplomacy by John Langmore AM, Dr Tania Miletic and Dr David Richardson
- Autonomous Weapons Must Be Controlled Urgently by Matilda Byrne
A Summit of the Future roundtable
In collaboration with the UN Association of Australia and the Australian Institute of International Affairs (ACT), the Initiative for Peacebuilding hosted a roundtable discussion about the UN Summit of the Future on 6 August 2024.
The roundtable saw the IfPB present and discuss briefing papers relating to the Summit, advocate the recommendations in the briefs to Government, and will provide an opportunity for all present to discuss Australia’s participation in the UN of the Future and the UN Peacebuilding Commission.
The Roundtable adopted a Communique reflecting the issues raised and discussed during the day. The Communique is available below. A recording of the day's proceedings is available below.
Key Resources
About the Summit for the Future: https://www.un.org/en/summit-of-the-future
The New Agenda for Peace: https://dppa.un.org/en/a-new-agenda-for-peace
Pact for the Future Revision 2: https://www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/pact_for_the_future_-_rev.2_-_17_july.pdf
The Bletchley Declaration by Countries Attending the AI Safety Summit, 1-2 November 2023 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ai-safety-summit-2023-the-bletchley-declaration/the-bletchley-declaration-by-countries-attending-the-ai-safety-summit-1-2-november-2023
The UN Secretary-General has issued a series of Policy Briefs to provide more detail on proposals contained in Our Common Agenda and to support deliberations leading to the Summit of the Future: Policy briefs | United Nations