The Summit of the Future took place on September 22 and 23, 2024 — ahead of UN General Assembly High-Level Week. The Summit forged a new consensus around how our international system could evolve to better meet the needs of current and future generations.
The Summit of the Future was also preceded by Action Days on September 20 and 21. These events brought together stakeholders — from young people to civil society to Heads of State — for an engaging two days of discussion and action.
Q: What is the Summit of the Future?
The first-of-its-kind Summit asked leaders to choose: breakdown or breakthrough. Together with advocates and activists of all ages, world leaders had a chance to hit the reset button on global cooperation when they met at the Summit of the Future at the UN — where every Member State, whether big or small, had a say.
Q: Why did the UN host this Summit? And why now?
With our world in crisis, it’s clear: we are not keeping pace with the risks or opportunities of the 21st Century. Global cooperation has never been more urgent, and yet, it’s more elusive than ever. Through the Pact for the Future, the Summit sought to upgrade our international system — designed decades ago — and improve how we work together to overcome our collective challenges and chart a course toward a better future for all.
Q: What did the Summit achieve?
At the Summit, UN Member States adopted the Pact for the Future, which included a Declaration on Future Generations and a Global Digital Compact as annexes. Together, they addressed important issues ranging from peace and security to digital cooperation, to how we finance our development goals and better deliver for generations to come.
Q: How will the Summit help deliver the 17 Sustainable Development Goals?
Building on the SDG Summit in 2023, the Summit of the Future aimed to help us get back on track to achieve the Global Goals by unlocking much-needed finance and tackling the global debt crisis, which disproportionately burdens developing economies.
Watch the Summit of the Future replay. Spread the word and add your voice to the conversation.
A global and energetic campaign, Once Upon A Future is putting the next generation front and center — and turning the eyes of young people around the world toward the Summit of the Future. The campaign, which launched in close collaboration with the UN and with a diverse network of global partners, inspires hope for a better future by asking the simple, yet powerful question: “What if we get it right?”
When it comes to the future, what if we get it right? During this global streaming event, a cast of creators, influencers, and experts unpacked the Summit of the Future, the Pact for the Future, and the global issues on everyone’s minds.
Check out these curated resources and stories to stay up to date on the Summit of the Future.
