From September 20th to 22nd, 2024, I had the honor of attending the United Nations’ Summit of the Future in New York, where global leaders, youth, civil society, and activists gathered to confront the most urgent challenges facing our world. The discussions were framed around the Pact for the Future, a bold initiative launched by the UN to strengthen multilateralism and address critical global issues like climate change, conflict, inequality, and pandemics. This Summit offered an unprecedented platform for me, as the Youth Focal Person on Climate Change for the African Youth Commission and the Executive Director of Frontline for Climate Action, to reflect on how this transformative pact can guide our collective efforts towards a sustainable and equitable world.
The Pact for the Future: A Blueprint for Global Cooperation
The Pact for the Future represents a renewed commitment to international cooperation in addressing some of the most pressing issues of our time. At its core, the pact emphasizes the need for strengthened multilateralism and reforming global institutions to ensure they reflect current global realities. For me, this is a vital step towards securing global public goods—such as environmental protection, public health, and peace—through collective action.
Here are some key pillars of the Pact for the Future and how they align with the urgent need for climate action:
1. UN Reforms and Multilateralism
A central theme of the pact is the need to reform international institutions, especially the United Nations, to make them more inclusive, accountable, and effective. The climate crisis knows no borders, and the Pact for the Future aims to foster stronger cooperation among nations to tackle it head-on. The Summit reaffirmed the importance of working together on global solutions that reflect the realities of our interconnected world.
For climate action, this means countries must work in unison to adopt more ambitious climate policies, enforce international climate agreements, and hold each other accountable. As a climate advocate, I stressed the importance of making sure developing countries—especially those in Africa—are not sidelined in the decision-making process. The Pact for the Future must ensure that all nations, regardless of their economic standing, have a say in shaping a sustainable future.
2. Protecting Global Public Goods
The Pact for the Future places significant emphasis on protecting global public goods like the environment and public health. These are resources shared by all humanity, and their preservation is crucial for the well-being of present and future generations. At the Summit, I highlighted the importance of collective action in safeguarding the climate, biodiversity, and ecosystems, which are essential to human survival.
For Africa, which bears the brunt of climate change despite contributing minimally to global emissions, the protection of these global public goods is a matter of survival. I called on the international community to honor their commitments under the Paris Agreement and ensure that environmental justice is served, particularly for vulnerable communities. The Pact for the Future must prioritize equitable climate action that empowers those most affected by climate change to build resilience.
3. Sustainable Development
Aligned with the UN’s 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Pact for the Future is a roadmap for ending poverty, promoting peace, and protecting the planet. The SDGs are critical in the fight against climate change, as they link environmental sustainability with economic and social justice.
During the Summit, I emphasized the need for accelerated action on the SDGs, particularly Goal 13, which focuses on climate action. The climate crisis threatens to undermine decades of progress in reducing poverty and inequality, and it is essential that we integrate sustainable practices into every aspect of development. The Pact for the Future challenges us to not only mitigate the effects of climate change but also to pursue development pathways that are sustainable, inclusive, and equitable.
4. Promoting Peace and Security
Another vital aspect of the Pact for the Future is its focus on peace and security, which are inextricably linked to climate change. Conflicts over resources, displacement due to extreme weather events, and political instability exacerbated by environmental degradation pose significant threats to global peace.
At the Summit, I underscored how climate change acts as a multiplier of conflict, particularly in fragile states. Addressing the root causes of conflict—such as poverty, inequality, and political instability—through climate adaptation and resilience strategies is crucial for long-term peace. The Pact for the Future recognizes this interdependence and calls for a more integrated approach to peace and environmental security.
5. Youth and Future Generations
The Pact for the Future also recognizes the critical role that young people must play in shaping our future. As a climate advocate working closely with youth through Frontline for Climate Action, I strongly support the call for empowering young people and ensuring their voices are heard in decision-making processes.
Youth are not just the leaders of tomorrow; they are already leading today’s climate movements. At the Summit, I advocated for intergenerational leadership where the energy, creativity, and vision of young people are coupled with the experience of older generations. The Pact for the Future must prioritize youth leadership and create spaces where young people can directly influence policy decisions that will shape their futures.
6. Global Solidarity and Climate Action
The Pact for the Future calls for greater global solidarity in the face of transnational challenges like pandemics, economic instability, and, most importantly, climate change. Throughout the Summit, it became clear that climate action cannot be achieved in isolation; it requires a unified effort from all countries.
For me, the most urgent aspect of the Pact for the Future is its call for more ambitious climate targets and stronger resilience against climate impacts. As Africa faces severe climate risks, from droughts to floods, the Pact for the Future must ensure that climate finance reaches the most vulnerable communities. Developed nations must meet their financial obligations and support the Global South in adapting to climate change while transitioning to renewable energy.
Moving Forward: The Time for Action Is Now
Reflecting on my time at the Summit of the Future, I left with a sense of urgency and determination. The Pact for the Future provides a comprehensive framework for addressing the most critical challenges we face, but its success will depend on the commitment of nations to take real action. Climate change is not just an issue for future generations—it is a crisis unfolding before our eyes, and we must act now to secure a livable planet.
At Frontline for Climate Action, we are committed to mobilizing communities, empowering youth, and advocating for the policies that will bring the Pact for the Future to life. We need bold climate action, equitable financing, and global solidarity to ensure that future generations inherit a world that is not only habitable but thriving. The time to act is now, and the Pact for the Future offers a path forward—one that is inclusive, just, and sustainable.
In the spirit of the Pact for the Future, let us all commit to playing our part in building a peaceful, resilient, and equitable world for all. Together, we can turn this vision into reality.
Cedric Dzelu
Youth Focal Person on Climate Change: Africa Youth Commission
Executive Director: Frontline for Climate Action
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