School of International Futures

A UN Champion for Future Generations Cannot Wait

We call for the appointment of a Special Envoy for Future Generations this year

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Organisations/Networks
156
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On the anniversary of the United Nations Declaration on Future Generations (DFG), unanimously supported by all UN member states, we call on Member States to support the UN Secretary-General to fulfil the vision of paragraph 32(a) and appoint a Special Envoy for Future Generations this year. At this time of enormous challenge, it is all the more vital that the UN builds toward a positive future, especially for the many people of all generations across so many nations, who urged their governments to support this bold and wise initiative. We must not let them down.

The growing number of Future Generations representatives worldwide show both a model and real proof of the value of coordinating, championing, and leading a whole-of-systems approach to fair decisions across generations. This kind of leadership builds a clear case, cuts through obstacles, and brings existing resources and innovations together to govern for the future.  As experts, leaders, and citizens, we – the signatories – work to safeguard our collective future at national, local, and multilateral levels across every continent. We strongly endorse the proposal for a Special Envoy as a vital step to drive impact, grounded in our practical, hard-won experience of systemic change in our countries and communities. From that experience, we know that having an institutional champion for the future is not a luxury—it is essential.

The role of the envoy is essential to ensure the DFG’s ambitions translate into action.  The DFG is a commitment by the UN and Member States to: prepare for an uncertain and volatile future, implement future-oriented decision-making, and build intergenerational solidarity. It builds on the core commitments of the UN Charter, providing a bridge between the UN’s founding principles and the world of tomorrow. It reinforces the Brundtland Commission commitment to sustainable development as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”. The DFG also provides a much-needed turbocharge to the SDG commitments, which call for action by 2030 to “transform our world..for the full benefit of all, for today’s generation and for future generations”

This is an ambitious and visionary agenda: to make governance at all levels genuinely anticipatory and intergenerationally fair. Achieving meaningful progress by the 2028 review will require strong and immediate leadership, with the focus and coordination that only a Special Envoy can provide.

Despite this not being a propitious time to make new appointments, we note the importance given in the recent Secretary-General’s third UN80 report to “equip the Organization to meet the challenges of the future” and “respond effectively to emerging issues, including those identified in the Pact for the Future.” We fully concur with the assessment that “complex systems often default to caution and the familiarity of the status quo; today’s realities demand political courage and shared resolve to deliver meaningful change.”

It is in the spirit of this courage and resolve, that we must recognise that this role is an exceptional case urgently needed by today’s realities. The role is all the more necessary in the context of the UN80 reforms, to ensure the reshaping of UN functions is done with a strong focus on the future. At a moment of crisis and resource constraints, we must never add personnel and structures unless there is a compelling, mission-driven logic behind them. By this measure, an Envoy for Future Generations – funded with philanthropic support and leveraging a wide network of stakeholders – represents a powerful return on investment as described in the terms of reference:

  1. Support Member States in applying the Declaration on Future Generations (especially its implementation provisions)
  2. Engage in intergovernmental processes to connect the Declaration with work on critical global issues
  3. Support UN system activation of the Declaration

This Special Envoy must be appointed now to help citizens, Member States, and the UN: engage with the new risks and opportunities on the horizon; confront the growing pressures of global intergenerational tension; and, above all, signal our collective commitment to protecting our future and that of generations to come.

Resources and Next Steps

If you can, please also send a copy of this letter to your country’s Permanent Mission to the UN in New York. Please use this contact list of UN Missions to send the letter, and kindly copy Cat Tully. Reaching out directly to Missions makes a huge difference.

We will email all signatories in a months time with an update.

If you want to continue to mobilise, please join our monthly meetings and contact cat.tully@soif.org.uk.

Inaugural Signatories

Organisations/networks: Futures Pledge and Pioneer Networks, School of International Futures; Coalition for the UN We Need, Networks and Leaders for Future Generations, Global Governance Innovation Network, Wellbeing Economy Alliance Aotearoa, Jesuit European Social Centre, Democracy 2076

Individuals: Jane Davidson (former cabinet minister who proposed the Well-being of Future Generations Act 2015, Wales), Senator Ledama Olekina (Chair of the Senate Caucus of the Future, Kenya), Nsah Mala (Future Generations Commissioner for Mbesse Kingdom, Cameroon), Daniel Calarco (President, International Youth Watch, Brazil), Anne-Marie Slaughter (President of New America, US), Derek Walker (Future Generations Commissioner, Wales), Kumi Naidoo (President, Fossil Fuel Non-proliferation Treaty Initiative, South Africa), Sophie Howe (First Future Generations Commissioner, Wales), Jan Van de Venis (Dutch Ombudsperson for Future Generations, and the Lab for Future Generation , Netherlands), Daniella Tilbury (NIFG Chair and former Commissioner for Future Generations, Gilbratar), Ashanti Kunene (Director, Learn 2 Unlearn, South Africa), Adam Sharpe (Foresight lead UNICEF, UK), Nicklas Larsen (Director for Impact and Development, Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies, Denmark), Cat Zuzarte Tully (Managing Director, School of International Futures, UK), Thomas Hale (Professor, Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford, UK), Daouia Chalali (SOIF IGF Hub lead, Algeria), Sophie Handford (Wellbeing Economy Alliance Aotearoa, NZ), Katerina Lambrinou (SOIF Pioneers and NIFG member, Greece), Isidora Gonzalez Rio (Advisor to the National Council of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation, Chile), Bela Kuslits (Future Generations lead, JESC, Hungary), Erika Gregory (President, Horizon 2045, US), Pupul Bisht (Head, Decolonising Futures Initiative, India), Jystina Krol, (founder, Center for Research on Change, Poland), Claudette Salinas Leyva (MPP Student, Mexico), Shermon Cruz (Chief Futurist, Center for Engaged Foresight, Philippines), Selene Tropiano (Educator and Independent Design Futures Researcher, Italy), Khawaja Hammad Akbar (Co-founder, Global South Futures Community, Pakistan), Andrew Higham (Head, FCC, Australia), Esther Ebube Ajudeonu (Founder, Primacy Youth Development Initiative, Nigeria), Shakil (Director, Ridiculous Futures, Bangladesh), Amalia Deloney (Founder Point A Studio, US), Mushfiqa Jamaluddin (Co-founder, Wayshaping Labs, US) 

Ongoing Signatories

The following organisations and individuals have since added their names to the open letter.

Organisations/Networks

Individuals

  • Jacob Ellis (Director of External Relations and Culture, Future Generations Commissioner for Wales, UK)
  • Divya Sharma (Policy Specialist, India)
  • Adane Tekil1y Negash (Lecturer, NGFP network member, Mekelle University, Ethiopia)
  • James Balzer (Steering Committee Member, NGFP, Australia)
  • David Mackenzie (Manager, Australia)
  • Felipe Sanchez (Lecturer, Universidad Católica del Maule, Chile)
  • Elena Maria Mueller (Swiss Climate Youth Delegate to COP30, Switzerland)
  • Duncan Koome (PM, SID, Kenya)
  • Erick Githaiga (Resident Ambassador for Future Generations in Kenya, Partnerships for Future Generations in Africa, Kenya)
  • Catalina Dib (Research Director, Katari Andes, Chile)
  • Randi A Millard (Co-Executive Director, Teach the Future, USA)
  • Ammaarah Nilafdeen (Researcher, Sri Lanka)
  • Abi Nokes (Director of Networks, SOIF, UK)
  • Randy Lubin (Founder, Leveraged Play, USA)
  • Natalia Tsuyama Cócolo (Public Policy Specialist, Brazil)
  • Brian Wamukota (Director, Africa Agribiz Concepts, Kenya)
  • Emmanuel Kiplangat Cheruiyot (CEO and Founder, Emkaco Enterprises, Kenya)
  • Nazlı Töre (Associate Professor Dr., Turkish Council of Women, Türkiye)
  • Khairunnisa Intiar (Communications Lead, Canada)
  • Victoria Knudsen (Accountant, Norway)
  • Lewis Swire (Executive Director, REEL IT IN CAMPAIGN, UK)
  • Theo Silberston (Founder, Shared Horizon, UK)
  • Agha Haroon Akram-Lodhi (Professor, Trent University, Canada)
  • Wendy Ellyatt (Futurist, UK)
  • Nicki Hitchcott (Professor, University of St Andrews, UK)
  • Kim Willis (Author, UK)
  • Moses Muita (Program Director, Integrated Community Peace & Development Organization, Kenya)
  • Thomas Blakie (Researcher, Ngāi Tahu Research Centre, New Zealand)
  • Grace Okubo (Creative and Strategy Lead, Tinkouse Design, Nigeria)
  • Lesley-Anne Long (Chief Strategist, Wonderfuture, UK)
  • Christine Saba (SVP, Finance, USA)
  • Naomi Mercer (Retired, USA)
  • Clare Kandola (Chief of Media, Wonderfuture, UK)
  • David G Newman (Volunteer, Rotary Club of Winnipeg, Canada)
  • Catharine Montgomery (Founder and CEO, Better Together Agency, USA)
  • Elias Mouawad (Public Value Innovation Strategist, Lebanon)
  • Elle Farrell-Kingsley (Futurist, AI Ethicist and Author, PsyberVision, UK)
  • Nyongesa Sikuku (Chair International Law Commission, Rongo Chapter, Kenya Model United Nations, Kenya)
  • Heledd Morgan (Director, Wales)
  • Sharon W (Group Manager, Singapore)
  • Kenneth Wee (Researcher & Strategist, Singapore)
  • Charlotte Kemp (Futurist, Futures Alchemist, South Africa)
  • Patricia Lustig (Managing Director, LASA Insight Ltd, UK/Netherlands)
  • Eniko Feherekova (Advocacy Officer, JESC, Slovakia)
  • Alisha Bhagat (Futures Lead, Forum for the Future, USA)
  • Minh H. Chau (Director, USA)
  • Pedro Silva de Senna (Associate Lecturer, Oxford Brookes University, Brazil)
  • Augusto Cesar Souza Facundo (Researcher/Curator, Brazil 2165 Project, Brazil)
  • João Fernandes (Executive Director, Oikos – Cooperação e Desenvolvimento, Portugal)
  • Thomas Hale (Professor, Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford, USA)
  • Luciana Bazanella (Co-founder, White Rabbit, Brazil)
  • Megan Anderson (Foresight Consultant, USA)
  • Tamsin Brewis (Director, Water Babies, UK)
  • Peter Bishop (Founder and Board Member, Teach the Future, USA)
  • Jane Kinninmont (Chief Executive, United Nations Association – UK, UK)
  • Julius Kruse (Student, World Future Council, Germany)
  • Lua Couto (Researcher, Futuro Possível, Brazil)
  • Ewelina Schraven (Researcher, Avans, Netherlands)
  • Sanam Naraghi (Founder/CEO, International Civil Society Action Network (ICAN), UK)
  • Eline Lauret (Council Member, Netherlands)
  • Freddy Julkanain (Vice Chancellor for Planning and Development, Mindanao State University, Philippines)
  • Frieda Edgette (Commissioner & Youth Action Board Co-Founder, San Mateo County Behavioral Health Commission, USA)
  • Tatsuyoshi Saijo (Director, Future Design Research Center, Kyoto University of Advanced Science, Japan)
  • Riza Annisa Anggraeni (Fellow, Mountain Sentinels, Indonesia)
  • Sarah Owen (Head of Research & Strategy, RADAR, Australia)
  • Susanne Pratt (Senior Lecturer, Transdisciplinary School, UTS, Australia)
  • Michael Münker (CEO, Photonics Healthcare BV, Germany)
  • Nadya Sistha Supriyanto (Sounding Board, Beyond Lab United Nations at Geneva, Indonesia)
  • Jolanda Gooiker (Freelance, Netherlands)
  • Zipeta Paul (Founder, Leverage Online, Kenya)
  • Tessa Roseboom (Future Generations Commissioner, Amsterdam UMC, Netherlands)
  • Mohammed Ahmed (Political Aide, The Presidency, Nigeria)
  • Danielle Hirsch (Economist, Netherlands)
  • Charlotte Land (Lawyer, ROSA, Germany)
  • Julia Reindl (Senior Foresight Analyst, Denmark)
  • Eleftheria Ftaklaki (Internationalist, University, Greece)
  • Carien Dagnelie (Retired Family Doctor, Netherlands)
  • Lydia Caldana (Foresight Policy Anslyst, Brazil)
  • Jost Wagner (Managing Director, The Change Initiative, Germany)
  • Sameer Padania (Director, Macroscope, UK)
  • Taylor Dee Hawkins (Managing Director, Foundations for Tomorrow, Australia)
  • Greetje Sleurs (Advisor Civil Participation, Belgium)
  • Freya Windle-Wehrle (Strategy and Communications, Italie)
  • Sjoerd Rozing (Fund Manager, Triodos IM, Netherlands)
  • Sergio (Consultant, Pivot Consulting, Netherlands)
  • Beth McEvoy (Futures Practitioner & Researcher, Queen’s University Belfast, Ireland)
  • Caitlin Murray (Strategic Advisor, Scotland)
  • Bram Hoonhout (Instructional Designer, Leiden University, Netherlands)
  • Lorna Okeng Atim (NGFP)
  • Denis Oakley (Director, Denis Oakley & Co, UK)
  • Christine Sponholz (Translator and cross-border conservation facilitator, Germany)
  • Tabitha Mbugua (Student, Daystar, Kenya)
  • Viktoriya Podgorna (Member of Parliament, Verhovna Rada of Ukraine (Parliament), Ukraine)
  • Joana Casaca Lemos (Research Director, Portugal)
  • Adrian Taylor (Founder, ForeSight to Strategy for Security and Sustainability IN Governance (4SING), Germany & UK)
  • Veronique Swinkels (Chairman, Lab for Future Generations, InnerPact, Netherlands)
  • Amanda Ellis (Executive Director, Wrigley Global Institute of Sustainability and Innovation, New Zealand)
  • Jimena Califa (Foresight Consultant, EXT, Argentina)
  • Glada Lahn (Senior Geopolitics, Energy and Climate Lead, Ditchley Park, UK)
  • Gracia Kirani Ratu Edo (Student, Indonesia)
  • Alison Brown (Volunteer, USA)
  • Marina Gattás (Co-Director, Øutra Economia, Brazil)
  • Rahul Chaly (Owner, India)
  • Sandra Fisher-Martins (CEO, Portugal)
  • Oleksii ZHMERENETSKYI (People’s Deputy of Ukraine, Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Ukraine)
  • Steven Kenney (Founder and Principal, Foresight Vector, USA)
  • Sam Douglas-Bate (Founder, ForgeFront, UK)
  • Amuh Viet Naam (Paralegal Trainee, Cameroon)
  • Ellis Amanda (Executive Director, New Zealand)
  • Nella Andem-Ewa (Founder, We Down South Development Initiative, Nigeria)
  • Mohini Bhavsar (Director Strategy & Partnerships, Grand Challenges Canada, Canada)
  • Abril Chimal (Co-Chair, Association of Professional Futurists)
  • Shem Omasire Orare (Farmer, Talel Organics, Kenya)
  • Cornelius Holtorf (Chairholder, UNESCO Chair on Heritage Futures, Germany)
  • Bill Sharpe (Independent, Future Stewards, UK)
  • Juan García Martínez (Research Manager, Alliance to Feed the Earth in Disasters, Spain)
  • Bruce Lloyd (Emeritus Professor, UK)
  • Huong Nguyen (Strategy, New Zealand)
  • Laurenz Scheunemann (Consultant, Germany)
  • Teresa Pallares Ramos (Researcher, Spain)
  • Sandrine Dixson-Decleve (Executive Chair, Earth4All/Systems Transformation Hub, Belgium)
  • Sandra Pellegrom (Former National SDG Coördinator, Netherlands)
  • Isaac Luang Marol (Executive Director, African Institute for Health and Social Sciences, South Sudan)
  • Dr Salman Khatani (Associate Professor, Iqra University, Pakistan)
  • Yomna Abdelkader (Medical Intern and Social Media Strategist, Egypt)
  • Kristen Cheney (Child protection and participation specialist, USA)