Roundtable on the Summit of the Future
Organized by Taskforce on the SDGs
In September 2024, the United Nations convenes the Summit of the Future. This high-level event is framed as “a once-in-a-generation opportunity to enhance cooperation on critical challenges and address gaps in global governance, reaffirm existing commitments including to the Sustainable Development Goals and the United Nations Charter, and move towards a reinvigorated multilateral system that is better positioned to positively impact people’s lives.” In other words, the United Nations’ Summit of the Future is seen by many as the moment to renew global governance for sustainable development, so as to make it fit for tackling the pressing issues of our time. As member state delegates and civil society representatives are back in their capitals, this roundtable aims to take stock of and reflect on the outcomes of the Summit of the Future. It invites high-level speakers with expertise on global sustainability governance from distinct sectors and countries to share their experiences and observations of what exactly happened at the Summit of the Future, both within negotiating rooms and corridors. What are tangible outcomes of the Summit? Did we witness only talk or also action? What role did non-governmental organizations play in this event? Do we see a shrinking space for civil society participation in global sustainability governance? And what are ways forward for delivering an ambitious post-2030 agenda? After short inputs from the panelists and reflections based on a series of guiding questions from the moderators, we invite people in the audience to also share their experiences and ask questions.
