Inside the UN's "Pact for the Future"

The United Nations Summit of the Future, a four-day event in New York, has concluded. The summit, described on its website as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reimagine the multilateral system and steer humanity on a new course, has resulted in the creation of a document titled the "Pact for the Future."

Summit Structure and Outcome

The summit was divided into two "action days" and two days of "the Summit." The outcome of these discussions was the "Pact for the Future" - an 81-page document filled with political language and proposals for global cooperation. The document discusses a variety of global issues, including climate change, conflict, food insecurity, poverty, misinformation, and hate speech. These are referred to as "complex global shocks" that can be addressed with solutions such as "respect for international law," "expanded cooperation," "increased role for the UN," and "interoperability."

Financial Commitments and Digital Control

The document also includes financial commitments, such as a promise to provide a new collective quantified goal from a floor of 100 billion United States dollars per year to combat climate change. Furthermore, the pact contains strong language regarding the control of the internet. It pledges to foster an inclusive, open, safe, and secure digital space that respects, protects, and promotes human rights. It also emphasizes the importance of "Information Integrity," calling on digital technology companies and social media platforms to enhance transparency and accountability and provide researchers access to data to address misinformation and disinformation.

Russia's Objections

Despite the consensus, the pact was met with objections from Russia, backed by Sudan, Syria, Iran, Belarus, and Nicaragua. Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin claimed that the draft only included what was dictated by Western countries. However, these objections were largely procedural and did not reject the core principles of the pact.

Global Consensus

Despite the objections, the pact is now official. Every country in the world now formally agrees that issues such as hate speech and misinformation are significant problems. They also endorse an end to privacy and increased censorship as a solution and agree to spend at least $100 billion per year to pursue "sustainable development goals" in developing nations.

Bottom Line

The UN's "Pact for the Future" represents a global consensus on a variety of issues and proposed solutions. However, it also raises questions about the balance of power and influence in these discussions, as evidenced by Russia's objections. While there may not be a formal global government, the pact reflects a globalism of ideas, even if there is some disagreement over implementation. What are your thoughts on this pact and its implications? Share this article with your friends and let us know your opinions. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, delivered every day at 6pm.