Summit of the Future Programme
It is our mission to mobilise the multilateral system and member states to drive long-term governance at a local, national and international level.
Understanding our Common Purpose
The Summit of the Future is a huge opportunity to drive forward this mission.
In September 2024, world leaders will come together to agree an international consensus on how we deliver a better present and safeguard the future. Member countries will come together to agree a Pact for the Future and a Declaration for Future Generations “to cement collective agreements and to showcase global solidarity for current and future generations.”
This is the only summit in UN history to focus specifically on the future. We need to meet the potential of this moment to catalyse urgent action for current and future generations across the world.
Summit of the Future Programme
In collaboration with UN Foundation and Future of Climate Cooperation, we will be working towards securing a successful Summit and mobilising countries to drive future generations’ policy at a local and national level in a 9 month ‘Summit of the Future’ Programme.
We know that there is lots of interesting long-term governance work being done at the local and country level, but it is not feeding through to the international and multilateral stages.
This programme is dedicated to bridging the gap between the different layers of government, both domestically and internationally, to support early adopters in creating a route to innovations and reforms that lead to long-term governance and a high-ambition Summit of the Future.
We will be doing this through research, weaving regional and global networks, and working in-country with officials and communities to build long-term governance capability.
How to get involved in the Summit of the Future
Applications to the Summit of the Future on the 22 and 23 September have now closed.
Summit of the Future Action Days on 20 and 21 September 2024 at UN Headquarters in New York.
- Registration opens: 12 August 2024
- Registration closes: 6 September 2024
SOIF will be hosting events in New York City on the 19th and 20th September – details to follow!
Action Days side events application submission deadlines:
- events to be held inside UNHQ: Friday, 19 July 2024
- events to be held off-site: Monday, 19 August 2024
Weaving Networks to Catalyse Change
We weave, incubate and scale networks of social change agents. We empower people who are working for better futures at a community, systemic and global level.
The Pledge Network
The Pledge Network is an informal collective of more than 100 cross-disciplinary leaders with expertise across futures, foresight, anticipatory governance, well-being and future generations policy.
Next meeting: Wednesday 14th August
Futures Pioneers
Hosted by our IGF collaboratory, this international network of government officials is building and sharing practice in future generations, wellbeing economics and long -term decision-making.
Visit our Futures Pioneers Webpage →
Next meeting: Wednesday 14th August
Moving the needle for long-term change
Innovations for Future Generations
Wales Future Generations Forum
April 2024
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Take a read of the ‘Wales Protocol for Future Generations‘
Assessing the Summit of the Future Process
April 2024
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Take a look at our first RAG assessment of the Summit of the Future process and how we think it can be improved
Australian Government
April 2024
Read more…
Sophie Howe travelled to advise the department of the Prime Minister and cabinet on implementation post-Summit of the Future as well as catching up with the ‘Young Australian of the Year’ and Chief Futures Officer, Dayle Stanley, from the Australian National University Futures Hub.
Finland
Helsinki, April 2024
Read more…
Cat Tully participated at the Exploring Strategic Foresight and Anticipatory Governance event in Helsinki to discuss what a successful Summit of the Future outcome might look like in Finland in a years time, as well as what actions need to be taken between now and then to make that happen.
European
Commission
Brussels, March 2024
Read more…
Sophie Howe joined ZOE Institute for Future-fit Economies to meet with the Cabinet of EU Commissioners to discuss proposals for an EU Commissioner for Future Generations.
They also met with political advisers to Members of the European Parliament to discuss ideas of how the EU Parliament could enhance futures scrutiny
Future
Generations
Conference
Leuven, March 2024
Read more…
Sophie Howe spoke at the Future Generations Conference in Leuven. Futures took over the city where young people were given the keys to City Hall They came together to share ideas on what the future of jobs and skills might look like through music, art, fashion, and community engagement.
There was also a political commitment from the Deputy Mayor of the City, Lalynn Wadera, to seeing Leuven as one of the first cities in the world to have a Future Generations Commissioner
Future
Days
Lisbon, March 2024
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Sophie Howe and Cat Tully travelled to Lisbon to conduct transformative participatory exercises at the Future Days Conference. They translated these insights into actionable steps for shaping the future of Lisbon.
Resources
Building Capability for Long-term Governance for Sustainable Development:
Beyond Strategic Planning – Toolkit for Decision Makers
The School of International Futures Triangle
Operationalizing strategic foresight to better support governments in managing SDG trade-offs and synergies in the post-COVID context, World Public Sector report, UN DESA, 2023
Strategy guidance note on strategic planning and foresight, UN DESA Committee of Experts for Public Administration, 2021
How can the UN and the High-Level Political Forum identify and deal with new and emerging issues to meet the 2030 Agenda? Paper for the Friends of Governance for Sustainable Development, 2020
Using foresight methods to adapt development co-operation for the future,” including opinion piece by Achim Steiner (UNDP Administrator), OECD Development Cooperation Report, 2018
Stewardship of the Future: Using Strategic Foresight in 21st Century Governance, UNDP Global Centre for Public Service Excellence, 2015
Summit of the Future Resources:
Declaration for Future Generations – Revision 2 (July 2024)
Pact for the Future – Zero Draft (July 2024)
SOIF supported the Welsh Future Generations Commissioner in the drafting of the Wales Protocol for Future Generations, an implementation framework for the Declaration On Future Generations, designed to guide communities and world leaders towards a more sustainable and equitable future.
Summit of the Future Action Package
Toward a Declaration on Future Generations
Implementing a Declaration on Future Generations
A Voice and a Forum for Future Generations
Our Common Agenda: Policy Brief 1 To think and act for Future Generations
The Pledge Network Declaration for Future Generations Written Input