Among the issues under discussion are accelerating sustainable development and reforming decades-old institutions, including the UN. Security Council and the international financial system.
On Wednesday, UN Under-Secretary-General for Policy and summit leader Guy Ryder briefed journalists on the “very ambitious agenda” for the conference.
A more ‘networked’ multilateralism
“The idea of the top is to make the United Nations, the multilateral system, more effective in fulfilling its mandate; to make it more participatory, more networked. This, in light of the very clear global challenges that we face,” he said.
“The fact that the world has changed and is changing rapidly, and the reality that many of our governance structures go back to the founding of the United Nations, when it had 51 member states rather than the 193 that will meet at the summit itself.”
Interest is growing
More than 130 heads of state and government are expected to attend this important event, which will take place from 22 to 23 September, just ahead of the annual high-level debate at the UN General Assembly.
It will be preceded by two “days of action” where non-governmental organizations (NGOs), academics and private sector representatives will address the key issues. So far, more than 7,000 people have registered to participate.
The summit is expected to be a Pact for the futureimmediately Worldwide Digital Compact and the attached Declaration on Future Generations.
Vision for the future
Mr Ryder gave an overview of the pact, which he called “the mother document”.
It will contain five chapters on sustainable development and related financing; peace and security; science, technology and innovation; youth and future generations; and transformation of global governance.
The chapter on science, technology and innovation “is where the annex on the Global Digital Compact comes into play,” he said.
“The aim of the Global Digital Compact is to make technology work for humanity in a fair way,” he explained, stressing the need for action to close digital divides and create systems to govern artificial intelligence (AI), among other goals.
The Declaration on Future Generations aims to ensure that decisions taken today take full account of the needs and interests of tomorrow.
Trust and consensus
“The ambitions for this summit have always been high,” Mr Ryder said, adding that with 10 days to go, UN member states are working hard to reach the necessary consensus on the three outcome documents.
“We need consensus for adoption, but I think there are good reasons to be confident that the successful conclusion of these negotiations will result in the pact with two annexes that will really make a difference,” he said.
“This is not just something worth having, it is something we need to secure for the future.”
