“At the 83rd UN General Assembly, UN Special Envoy on Future Generations Celebrates Four Years of Global Transformation.”
This paper was developed in October 2024 by the School of International Futures, to lay out a vision for a successful implementation of the Declaration on Future Generations up to the next review.
The paper is set in 2028, as a Keynote Speech from the 1st Special Envoy for Future Generations at the 83rd Session of the General Assembly.
October 2028
In the blink of an eye, four years have passed since the Summit of the Future.
It was an unusually warm late September in New York. Outside the UN, long queues of people from all over the world stood for hours, braving the heat and holding on to the belief that change was possible, despite the scarce reasons for optimism. Little did I know that I would be delivering this speech today. What I did know then was that, despite the obstacles, we couldn’t afford to give up. On 22 September 2024, the world gathered at the United Nations to rise above the constraints of ‘presentism’ and advocate for a better tomorrow for everyone.
We knew from the outset that the Declaration on Future Generations was only a small step in a long and difficult journey. Around the world, people had lost trust in the capacity of their leaders to protect their rights. Overwhelmed by narratives and forecasts of polycrisis, many felt that a promising future was a privilege reserved for a few. By then, the majority was too preoccupied with the immediate tragedies of environmental degradation, war, poverty, and systemic inequality.
Many obstacles remain. It would be naïve to expect that centuries of inequality and oppression could be dismantled within four years. Yet hope has returned. We possess the mandate, the means, and the knowledge. As a guardian for future generations, I proudly observe that the Declaration on Future Generations we set in motion in 2024 has decisively contributed to accelerating the 2030 Agenda. We now reflect on the remarkable progress we’ve made together to plan and act for the long-term and to place intergenerational fairness at the heart of decision-making. Thanks to the commitment and leadership of citizens, policymakers and institutions, the Declaration on Future Generations’ goals have transcended the text, bringing about concrete, lasting change across the globe.
Leveraging the drivers of systemic, long-term transformation
Where once there were isolated sparks of innovation, we now see a tapestry of transformation. Across continents, many governments have incorporated foresight planning and sustainability into their strategies, crafting policies that protect the rights of future generations. Under the leadership of countries championing this agenda from the outset—Kenya, Morocco, South Africa, Cameroon, Brazil, Mexico, Finland, Spain, and Bangladesh, to name a few—the Declaration has taken root and flourished.
We no longer need to rely on hope alone. Evidence is now on our side. Supported by mechanisms and frameworks developed by leaders in this field, countries and stakeholders have built rigorous, evidence-based pathways to enhance citizen engagement, coalition-building, and governance systems founded on responsible leadership.
In 2024, Wales was the only country with a Commissioner for Future Generations. Today, dozens of nations have followed suit, appointing ombudspersons, Future Caucuses, and National Committees for Future Generations to ensure accountability and safeguard the rights of both people and the planet. Collaborating with these dedicated partners, alongside those relentlessly working toward achieving the SDGs, I witnessed communities and regions drawing ever closer to their envisioned futures.
Empowering citizens and communities
Across this inspiring journey, communities worldwide have engaged in meaningful debates, citizen assemblies, and other forms of participatory democracy to address the issues that matter most to them. Recently, a citizens’ assembly recommended the decommissioning of all coal mines by 2030—a proposal later endorsed through a referendum and enacted into law. But the transformation didn’t end there. To ensure a just transition, these policies were bolstered by measures such as universal basic income, free upskilling programmes, and dedicated resources to support workers moving into the renewable energy sector.
This is how transformation unfolds. We protect and sustain livelihoods while healing the planet. While reversing climate change remains a distant goal, we are firmly moving in the right direction. Many countries are better equipped with foresight departments crucial to disaster prevention and management, saving lives and ecosystems. Nationally and globally—through bodies such as the EU, OECD, ASEAN, and African Union—enhancing foresight capability has increased resilience and response effectiveness.
Working globally for future generations
Our collective success relied on harnessing the momentum and using pivotal moments to advance our goals. Following the Summit, we worked to ensure that the Declaration on Future Generations helps to bring new life into stagnant policy issues across different multilateral moments. The 2025 UN World Summit for Social Development became a critical turning point, addressing long-term challenges like employment, social equity, and healthcare through an intergenerational lens. Key examples of our success include:
- Countries across all regions have embedded long-term governance principles in their strategies with the support of UN Resident Coordinators, Regional Offices, and specialised agencies.
- The Friends of Future Generations coalition has united over 60 Member States, mapping best practices, offering guidance, and championing intergenerational fairness at the highest diplomatic levels.
- Regional Economic Commissions have led in horizon scanning for regional trends, ensuring that global action respects and protects the diverse priorities that emerge around the world.
Driving systemic change at the multilateral level
On the global stage, the call for systemic reform has been heard and acted upon. Major progress has been made on issues such as climate action, housing, development finance, and taxation. We are steadily advancing toward building accountable systems that deliver resources where they are most needed, fostering greater solidarity between the Global North and Global Majority Countries. Tangible progress includes:
- G20 and G7 policies are now systematically reviewed for intergenerational fairness, and COP negotiations have embraced this principle, instituting a rule requiring that 25% of all negotiators be under 30.
- The need to protect Future Generations has accelerated international financial reform. I particularly acknowledge here the decisive push that this agenda received at the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development, held in Seville (Spain) in 2024.
- Networks of development banks, academic institutions, and civil society organizations continue to flourish, collaborating on cutting-edge research to strengthen governance worldwide.
- Regionally, ASEAN and African Union Summits made significant steps in placing the FG agenda at the center. I cannot stress enough how critical this is in these areas, which have traditionally been particularly impacted by the consequences of global unsustainable development.
Next steps: The future is now
Yet, we must not lose sight of the timeline set in 2015. With only two years remaining until the 2030 Agenda deadline, we must recognise that our shared ambitions remain unmet. As we look ahead to 2050, it is crucial that we accelerate our efforts, for the sake of our communities today and those yet to come.
Much remains to be done. True transformation requires many more countries to join us on this path. As we look ahead, the task is clear: we must maintain momentum and continue building on the lessons we’ve learned.
We understand that long-term, inclusive, and intergenerationally fair governance is key to the well-being and equity we strive for. Our institutional frameworks must evolve beyond short-term crisis management, shifting towards a sustainable, participatory, and nature-centred governance model. As Special Envoy, and in collaboration with the world’s Commissioners and ombudspersons for Future Generations, I am committed to ensuring that strategic foresight becomes embedded in public service and that intergenerational fairness is enshrined in every policy framework.
A call for accountability and action
People from all generations are uniting to challenge the deep-rooted North-South inequalities that have long hindered global well-being. Together, as the responsible ancestors we vowed to be four years ago, we are shaping a future where the well-being of future generations is safeguarded, and long-term governance is accessible to all, not just a privileged few.
As you read or listen to these words, you may wonder what role you can play. Hold us accountable. Demand transparency from policymakers, and track our progress and shortcomings in advancing the Sustainable Development Agenda and the Declaration on Future Generations. Whether it’s in maternity care, universal housing, debt relief, or climate justice, anyone, anywhere, can spark real change.
We have come this far. We must go further. I look forward to the ongoing transformation we will create together in the years to come. Let us not fear the future.