Sustainable development and financing for development
Pact for the Future – Chapter 1
Sustainable development and financing for development
Pact for the Future – Chapter 1
By Our Future Agenda – UN Foundation
A Call for Bold Action
The Future
We Must Build
We’re at a breaking point. Chapter 1 of the Pact for the Future calls for sweeping, ambitious action to reach the SDGs by 2030.
The message is simple: lift millions from poverty, tackle hunger head-on, combat climate change, and create resilient, fair and inclusive societies.
Inaction now could be disastrous, deepening the divide between rich and poor, making inequality worse and eroding trust in global cooperation.
No one can be left behind. This is essential for vulnerable nations like small island developing states, least developed countries, and those in conflict zones, as well as for populations in vulnerable situations. If women and girls – half of the world’s population – is left behind, none of this will be truly accomplished.
Now’s the time to act – build global partnerships and keep the momentum going to achieve the SDGs.
A Call for Bold Action
The Future
We Must Build
We’re at a breaking point. Chapter 1 of the Pact for the Future calls for sweeping, ambitious action to reach the SDGs by 2030.
The message is simple: lift millions from poverty, tackle hunger head-on, combat climate change, and create resilient, fair and inclusive societies.
Inaction now could be disastrous, deepening the divide between rich and poor, making inequality worse and eroding trust in global cooperation.
No one can be left behind. This is essential for vulnerable nations like small island developing states, least developed countries, and those in conflict zones, as well as for populations in vulnerable situations. If women and girls – half of the world’s population – is left behind, none of this will be truly accomplished.
Now’s the time to act – build global partnerships and keep the momentum going to achieve the SDGs.
Key Themes for
Global Transformation
Invest in Wellbeing
Imagine a world where everyone has the chance to shine. Building a society where all can thrive starts with investing in people. This means ensuring everyone can access healthcare, quality education, decent jobs, and equal rights. We also need the power of a world where girls and women are given the same opportunities as everyone else. When people feel supported, trust grows, and communities become stronger and more connected.
Tackle the Climate Crisis
Climate change can’t wait. We must act urgently to reduce harmful emissions, embrace renewable energy, and protect our planet’s ecosystems. If we delay, we risk leaving future generations with a world that is far less livable. Together, we can create a sustainable future by prioritizing the health of our environment.
Finance for Development
Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) hinges on funding, and it’s time for governments to step up. We need to increase investments and honor commitments, like the official development assistance (ODA) for developing countries. Countries must also boost domestic resource mobilization, which means raising more funds from their own budgets to improve people’s lives and secure their futures.
Strengthen Global Cooperation
Tackling big issues like poverty and inequality requires teamwork and global cooperation. By strengthening international institutions, reforming trade systems, and prioritizing human rights, we can work together to ensure no one is left behind.
12 Tangible Actions
Action 1: Transform the SDG Agenda
It’s time to move from talk to action. Countries need to step up and push forward the 2030 Agenda, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, the Rio Declaration, and the Paris Agreement. Developing nations, least developed countries (LDCs), and small island developing states (SIDS) must be at the center. This means fully implementing the political declaration agreed at the 2023 SDG Summit and ensuring resources are mobilized and obstacles to development are torn down.
Action 2: Put Poverty Eradication First
Poverty eradication is the bedrock of global cooperation. From boosting rural economies to investing in health, quality education, and social protection systems – this is about keeping people out of poverty for good.
Action 3: End Hunger and Malnutrition
Hunger is a global emergency. This action calls for emergency food supplies, boosting agricultural production, and making sure countries can withstand future food shocks. Keeping food supply chains open is vital, especially for countries in debt distress.
Action 4: Close the Financing Gap
There’s a growing gap in financing the SDGs, and it’s holding everything back. The Secretary-General’s SDG Stimulus is set to jumpstart funding flows, especially for developing nations. Governments need to stick to their promises of aid – 0.7% of their income – and update how we measure that help. This includes ramping up anti-corruption efforts and setting up a global framework to improve how taxes are managed fairly worldwide, helping countries collect more money for important goals like reducing poverty and protecting the environment. The 2025 Financing for Development Conference will be the next big test for countries to show they’re serious about this.
Action 5: Make Trade Work for Everyone
The World Trade Organization (WTO) is at the heart of the global trading system, but it needs reform to work better for developing countries. This action pushes for preferential trade access, boosting export-led growth, and making it easier for the poorest countries to join the global market.
Action 6: Invest in People
Lifting people out of poverty isn’t enough – we need to build trust in a better future. That means investing in universal healthcare, quality education, decent jobs, and affordable housing, and ensuring everyone has access to modern energy. It also requires making the most of how migrants can help develop their home and host countries, working together globally to ensure migration is safe, fair, and respectful of everyone’s rights, no matter their migration status. The 2025 World Social Summit will be pivotal in pushing this forward.
Action 7: Build Peaceful and Just Societies
Peaceful, just, and inclusive societies are non-negotiable for sustainable development. Governments need to create transparent and accountable institutions and make sure justice is accessible to all, focusing on human rights and good governance frameworks that benefit everyone.
Action 8: Promote Gender Equality
Gender equality is a game-changer for our future. This action calls on governments to break down all barriers –legal, social, and economic –so that women and girls of all backgrounds can thrive. We need to end gender-based violence, make sure everyone has access to sexual and reproductive health services, and massively increase funding for women’s and girls’ rights. The 2025 celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action will be a key moment to check how far we’ve come and how we can speed things up.
Action 9: Urgent Action on Climate
The fight against climate change is falling behind, with developing countries being hit the hardest. To keep up, we need to move faster, relying on the best science and ensuring every country pulls its weight.
The goal is to limit global warming to 1.5°C, which would greatly reduce the impacts compared to 2°C. By 2030, countries must triple their use of renewable energy, double energy efficiency, and phase out coal power, all while fully transitioning to clean energy by 2050.
Alongside this, boosting new technologies like carbon capture, zero-emission vehicles, and cutting methane emissions by 2030 is crucial. Protecting and restoring forests and oceans will play a huge role in absorbing greenhouse gases and preserving biodiversity. A new climate disaster fund will provide the necessary financial support for those affected.
By 2027, we aim to protect everyone with early warning systems that alert communities about natural disasters, helping them prepare and stay safe.
Action 10: Restoring and Protecting the Environment
This action focuses on restoring ecosystems, stopping deforestation, and tackling pollution. Governments are also called to finalize a legally binding agreement on plastic pollution by the end of 2024. Implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework to reverse biodiversity loss by 2030 is central to achieving the future we want for the natural world.
Action 11: Promote Culture and Sport
Culture and sport have the power to bring people together, and they’re vital for building strong, sustainable societies. Governments are urged to integrate culture into development policies and invest in cultural heritage. International cooperation is needed to return cultural properties to their countries of origin, while promoting intercultural dialogue.
Action 12: Planning for the Future and Strengthening Commitment Beyond 2030
While the focus remains on achieving the 2030 Agenda, this action pushes governments to start planning for beyond 2030. We must prepare for new and emerging challenges, strengthening the high-level political forum for long-term development planning. Governments are invited to consider the future of global development at the 2027 high-level political forum under the General Assembly’s auspices.
International Cooperation and the Path Forward
Global cooperation is like the glue that holds our big dreams together. Countries, organizations, and individuals need to come together to make real progress in tackling issues like poverty, climate change, and inequality. By joining forces and sharing resources, we can amplify our impact and create solutions that benefit everyone. This means forming strong partnerships, whether it’s through climate finance, fair trade, or supporting education initiatives.
With 2030 just around the corner, now is the time to accelerate our efforts, secure funding, and collaborate like never before. The 2025 Financing for Development Conference will be a defining moment to see if countries are ready to step up and deliver. Together, we can build a brighter future where everyone has the chance to thrive!
Get the Full Scoop
If you enjoyed our decoded version of the Pact for the Future and want to delve into more detail on the recommendations, you can immerse yourself in the full version here:
To find out more about the Summit of the Future, click here.
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