Navigating through the poly-crisis: Towards a global pact for a better future for people and the planet

Ahead of the UN Summit of the Future, which will take place in New York in September 2024, we will organise – together with FEPS and the UN Brussels Office – a high-level policy discussion on 22 March. This event will take place in Brussels and will gather policymakers, experts, civil society, youth and a diverse range of participants to reflect on the key findings of the upcoming FEPS report For a New Global Deal. Preparing the Summit of the Future. Maria João Rodrigues, FEPS President, will moderate the event.

For more information, please contact Daniea Iller, Policy Officer at the FES EU Office: Daniela.Iller(at)fes.de

Background

The interplay between new wars, climate crisis, rising inequalities, and the COVID-19 pandemic have put the future of people and the planet high on the international political agenda. At the same time, however, a contested multilateral system and competing global strategies aggravate finding and defining policy solutions for the existential global challenges emerging for all humankind. The European Council will address some of these challenges in its meeting on 21 and 22 March.

By doing so, the European Council will address aspects of the reform agenda, Our Common Agenda, put forward by the UN Secretary-General (SG). With this report issued in 2021, the SG responded to the request by the 75. session of the UN General Assembly to strengthen global governance and come up with innovative proposals to tackle the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change, rising inequalities, regression or stagnation on most of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The report also addressed fast technological change carrying unprecedented threats and opportunities.

The report thus includes actionable recommendations to renew the multilateral system to accelerate implementation of existing commitments, fill gaps in global governance that have emerged since 2015, and turbocharge action on the SDGs. This was followed by 11 policy briefs on the key issues raised in Our Common Agenda.

Furthermore, the Summit of the Future was proposed as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to take these steps. Upon the decision of the UN General Assembly at its 78. session, this summit will take place on 22-23 September 2024. World leaders will gather to endorse an action-oriented Pact for the Future, comprising a chapeau and five chapters on sustainable development and financing for development; international peace and security; science, technology and innovation and digital cooperation; youth and future generations; and transforming global governance.

To contribute to global reflections ahead of the Summit of the Future, FEPS and its partners will present the report "For a New Global Deal. Preparing the Summit of the Future", which was prepared by a high-level group of experts. The report aims to open a dialogue across Europe and between Europe and the other continents. The aim: to discuss the priorities of reforming global governance regarding policies and UN reforms to address the current global challenges, notably climate change, poverty, sustainable development, digital transformation, and finance.

Programme: 

09:30 – 09:35 Opening by Camilla Brückner, Director UN Office Brussels

09:35 – 10:15 Introduction by

• Guy Bernard Ryder, Under-Secretary-General for Policy, Executive Office of the United Nations Secretary-General
• Jutta Urpilainen, European Commissioner for International Partnerships 
• Heidy Rombouts, Director General for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid, Belgian Federal Public Service for Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation

Session I: SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND FINANCING FOR DEVELOPMENT (10:15 – 11:15)

Short Presentation by FEPS Report Experts:

• Azita Berar Awad, Chair of the Board of the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development and Director of Policy at the Global Labour Organization: “Reducing inequalities and promoting social inclusion: a new social contract through a New Global Deal”
• Paolo Guerrieri, Visiting Professor at the Paris School of International Affairs, former Professor of Economics at the University of Rome La Sapienza and Italian Senator: “Global Economic Governance in a Poly-crisis Scenario”

Opening the discussion with input from:

• Georges Rebelo Pinto Chikoti, Secretary-General of Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) (TBC):“Scaling up financing for development”
• Oliver Röpke, President of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC):“Role, Position and Demands by Civil Society”

11:15 – 11:30 Coffee break

Session II: TRADE, TECHNOLOGY, INNOVATION AND DIGITAL COOPERATION FOR SDGs (11:30 - 12:25)

Short Presentation by FEPS Report Experts:

• Arancha Gonzalez Laya, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, the European Union and Cooperation of Spain: “Making trade work for prosperity, people and planet”
• Francesco Lapenta, Founding Director of the John Cabot University Institute of Future and Innovation Studies: “An Alternative Model and Vision for our Tech-Driven AI Future”

Opening the discussion with input from:

• Pedro Miguel Da Costa e Silva, Ambassador of Brazil to the EU: “Possible inputs by G20 to the Summit of the Future”
• Mekondjo Kaapanda-Girnus, Ambassador of Namibia to Belgium, the Netherlands, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and Mission to the European Union (TBC): “African Perspectives on Global Governance Innovation in the Area of Trade and Tech-Driven AI”

Comments by:

• Juha Heikkilä, Adviser for Artificial Intelligence, DG CONNECT, European Commission: “Digital cooperation in AI tech-driven future”

• Renata Dwan, Special Adviser, Office of the Secretary-General's Envoy on Technology: “Towards a Global Digital Compact”

12:25 – 12:55 Closing remarks: BUILDING UP THE EU’S CONTRIBUTION TO THE SUMMIT OF THE FUTURE

• Maria João Rodrigues, President FEPS
• Belén Martinez Carbonell, EEAS Acting Deputy Secretary General for Economic and Global Issues

Closing by Christiane Kesper, Director FES EU Office Brussels