Key role for the Netherlands in the lead-up to the Summit of the Future

Blog post | 20-09-2024 | Ministry of Foreign Affairs

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Summit of the Future

The Summit of the Future will take place ahead of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). Countries will gather at UNGA to discuss today’s most urgent problems, including various conflicts and crises. The summit, on the other hand, is an opportunity for countries to look further ahead.

The summit is being organised at the initiative of UN Secretary-General António Guterres. According to Guterres, the UN system needs to be able to respond more swiftly to change. This means critically examining the structure and functioning of the UN to ensure that the organisation is better equipped to tackle the challenges of our time.

Prime Minister of St Maarten, Luc Mercelina: ‘The Summit of the Future is about securing a better world for the generations to come. We need stronger global governance—institutions that can actually deliver when it comes to peace, security, and climate justice. The commitments we make here need to be long-term, visionary, and transformative. This summit must signal that the world is serious about building sustainable futures for all—especially the most vulnerable. We hope to leave this summit with renewed trust in multilateralism and a global promise to protect both people and the planet.’

Pact for the Future

In the run-up to the summit, 193 countries are working together to develop plans for the future. They are discussing topics such as sustainable development, peace and security, and technology. At the end of the summit, the results will be consolidated into a final declaration, the Pact for the Future, and two annexes:

• Global Digital Compact: outlining the responsible use of digital technologies and a safe and inclusive internet.
• Declaration on Future Generations: ensuring that the interests of future generations are considered in today’s decisions.

Younger Generations

The Kingdom of the Netherlands, together with Jamaica, has played an important role in preparing for the Summit of the Future. Both countries served as co-facilitators of the Declaration on Future Generations.

Future generations are either not born yet or are too young to exert influence themselves. It is therefore up to present generations to consider their future today. In the lead-up to the summit, the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Jamaica have held numerous discussions on this matter with UN member states, civil society organisations and experts.

Such conversations have helped bring together different ideas and viewpoints. The outcomes will be included in the Declaration on Future Generations. Thanks to the efforts of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Jamaica, the voices of future generations will be represented in the plans for tomorrow.

Impact of Climate Change

Climate change is one of the biggest challenges of our time. The need for global cooperation has never been greater. The Kingdom of the Netherlands is also experiencing the effects of climate change. In the Netherlands, we are facing heavier rainfall and increasing drought, while the Caribbean parts of our Kingdom—Aruba, St Maarten, and Curaçao—are being affected by stronger hurricanes and rising sea levels.

Climate change affects us all. It impacts our health, safety, food security and environment. That is why the Kingdom of the Netherlands is working within the context of the summit to ensure that the world is better prepared to face the challenges of climate change.