Declaration on Future Generations
A Declaration to Safeguard Generations to Come
Declaration on Future Generations
A Declaration to Safeguard Generations to Come
By Our Future Agenda – UN Foundation
A Call for Bold Action
A Future In Our Hands
The Declaration on Future Generations marks a watershed moment – an urgent call for world leaders to act to create conditions for a better future.
The stakes couldn’t be higher: the future of our planet and billions of lives depend on the choices we make right now. The Declaration lays out a bold plan to tackle the biggest challenges of our time, from the climate crisis to rampant inequality, and calls for speeding up progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Most importantly, the Declaration highlights the stakes for those who have the most to lose – future generations, i.e. the people yet to be born in this century. They will inherit a world at risk of environmental collapse, growing instability and violence, and deepening societal divides unless we take immediate and meaningful action.
The goals set in this Declaration are urgent, time-bound tasks that must be accomplished to ensure peace, global security, and a fair future for all.
A Call for Bold Action
A Future In Our Hands
The Declaration on Future Generations marks a watershed moment – an urgent call for world leaders to act to create conditions for a better future.
The stakes couldn’t be higher: the future of our planet and billions of lives depend on the choices we make right now. The Declaration lays out a bold plan to tackle the biggest challenges of our time, from the climate crisis to rampant inequality, and calls for speeding up progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Most importantly, the Declaration highlights the stakes for those who have the most to lose – future generations, i.e. the people yet to be born in this century. They will inherit a world at risk of environmental collapse, growing instability and violence, and deepening societal divides unless we take immediate and meaningful action.
The goals set in this Declaration are urgent, time-bound tasks that must be accomplished to ensure peace, global security, and a fair future for all.
Key Themes for
Global Transformation
Climate Action and Environmental Protection
The climate crisis is both a present danger and a future threat.. The Declaration demands immediate, coordinated action to halt environmental degradation and protect the planet. The message in it is simple: if we don’t protect our environment now, future generations will pay the price. Vulnerable countries, like Small Island Developing States (SIDS), need our help to adapt to the changing climate.
Demographic Trends
The world is changing fast – aging populations, population growth, and migration are reshaping societies. The Declaration stresses the need for policies that address these trends head-on. Future generations will thrive only if we manage these demographic shifts wisely, balancing economic development and resource management pressures.
Intergenerational Justice
Today’s decisions will define tomorrow’s world. The Declaration emphasizes that we have a responsibility to act with future generations in mind, ensuring our policies don’t leave them behind. This means tackling poverty, hunger, and inequality is essential for building a more just and sustainable future.
Empowerment of Youth and Women
Youth and women are the engines of change. The Declaration calls for supporting young people and women to take their rightful place in decision-making spaces. We can’t build a better future if the talents of half the world’s population are underutilized. Full participation and equality are the keys to unlocking the potential of future generations.
Human Rights and Equality
A future built on equality is non-negotiable. The Declaration calls for the end of discrimination and violence, particularly against women, girls, and marginalized groups. By upholding the human rights of every individual – regardless of race, gender, or ability – we lay the groundwork for a fairer, more inclusive future.
Tackling Historical Injustice
The past has left scars, but the future doesn’t have to be defined by those scars or pass on the trauma to the next generation. The Declaration calls for addressing historical injustices and dismantling entrenched inequalities. It champions the preservation of cultural diversity and intergenerational knowledge, while standing firm on the rights of Indigenous Peoples to protect their lands and heritage. True progress means bringing everyone along.
International Peace and Security
Peace isn’t a given – it’s something we must work for! The Declaration emphasizes that future generations can only thrive in a world free of conflict and from violence. Strengthening international law and promoting peaceful conflict resolution is critical for creating a safer, more stable future.
Technology and Innovation
Technology is transforming our world, but it must be used responsibly. The Declaration highlights the need for ethical, inclusive approaches to technological development, ensuring that new innovations benefit everyone, not just a privileged few. By closing the digital divide, we create opportunities for future generations to succeed.
10 Tangible Actions
This Declaration includes concrete actions for countries to implement in their consideration of future generations. Here’s what world leaders are committing to right now:
Action 1: Institutionalizing Future Generations in Policy and Decision Making
Governments must embed long-term thinking in all policies, using data, science, and foresight to ensure decisions made today benefit generations to come.
Action 2: Ensure Inclusive Access to Knowledge
Promote equitable access to knowledge and foster innovation that empowers individuals to be agents of change, no matter where they live.
Action 3: Strengthen Global Accounting
Revamp global accounting systems to measure both economic growth and real progress – like sustainability and the well-being of people and the planet.
Action 4: Prepare for Future Crises
Build resilience to future crises by investing in early warning systems and prioritizing the protection of vulnerable populations.
Action 5: Whole-of-Government Coordination
Adopt a whole-of-government approach to align national and local efforts in safeguarding the interests of future generations.
Action 6: Engage Stakeholders for Long-Term Planning
Partner with civil society, academia, and the private sector to develop forward-thinking solutions and ensure future generations are at the heart of every plan.
Action 7: Equip the UN for Future-Orientation
The UN must lead by example, embedding the needs of future generations into its core policies and decision-making processes.
Action 8: Appoint a Special Envoy for Future Generations
The Secretary-General’s proposal to appoint a Special Envoy for Future Generations is recognized as the key to driving the implementation of this Declaration and raising global awareness.
Action 9: High-Level Plenary Review
The General Assembly will hold a high-level review meeting during its eighty-third session (in 2028) to evaluate progress and push for further action.
Action 10: Report on Implementation
The Secretary-General will present a report on how the Declaration is being implemented, ensuring transparency and accountability.
International Cooperation and the Path Forward
International cooperation is the lifeblood of the Declaration. It recognizes that no single country can solve these problems alone – it’s going to take a united, global effort. Global organizations like the United Nations and multi stakeholder coalitions are crucial for driving these commitments forward. Multilateralism has the potential to restore trust, tackle inequalities, and ensure no one is left behind.
The next big milestones? A high-level plenary meeting and the appointment of a Special Envoy for Future Generations – both critical to keeping the momentum alive and ensuring accountability. But the work doesn’t stop there. Nations must deepen collaboration, innovate, and build long-term strategies that always consider the needs of those who will inherit the world we leave behind.
Concrete Steps and Deadlines
The table breaks down the Declaration into concrete steps and timelines that aim to tackle some of the world’s biggest challenges. We’ve also connected these steps with Our Common Agenda, a global plan to reimagine the UN launched in 2021 by the Secretary-General, which proposed the Summit of the Future as a key moment to forge a new global consensus on what our future should look like, and what we can do today to secure it. This ensures accountability and helps everyone – governments, organizations, and citizens – focus on what needs to be done next.
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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