The 2024 United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Summit, held in New York, was dominated by discussions on critical global challenges, including ongoing conflicts, climate change, and technological advancements. The summit, marking the 79th session of the UNGA, saw leaders addressing crises such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the war in Ukraine, and violence in Sudan, among other geopolitical concerns. However, beyond immediate crises, deliberations focused heavily on the long-term future of global governance and international cooperation.

A central outcome of the summit was the adoption of the “Pact for the Future,” a blueprint for global reform aimed at adapting the UN to emerging challenges. The pact recognizes the need for international institutions to evolve to address new issues like artificial intelligence (AI), demographic changes, and the accelerating climate crisis. One key component of the pact is the Global Digital Compact, which addresses the governance of digital technologies and artificial intelligence to ensure their ethical use. AI was a major topic, with world leaders stressing the need for frameworks that prevent its misuse while leveraging its potential for economic growth and societal advancement.

In line with the summit’s forward-looking theme, the Declaration on Future Generations was introduced, aiming to safeguard the interests of younger and future populations. This initiative is a recognition of the growing pressures that youth will face in the years to come, from climate-induced disasters to economic disruptions. The declaration seeks to give future generations a more significant voice in policy decisions made today, ensuring that the long-term impact of present-day actions is considered.

The climate crisis remained a major point of focus, with discussions highlighting the escalating frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. Leaders called for urgent action on climate change, particularly regarding financing mechanisms for developing nations most affected by the crisis. However, the summit exposed divisions, with some nations criticizing wealthier countries for not fulfilling their financial commitments to climate adaptation and mitigation. Many developing nations demanded more concrete timelines and accountability mechanisms to ensure that promises, such as the $100 billion per year climate finance pledge, are fulfilled.

A notable initiative aimed at addressing these concerns was the Climate Ambition Summit, which ran parallel to the main UNGA event. Here, countries were encouraged to submit new, more ambitious commitments to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, the event also highlighted the slow progress made by major emitters and the wide gap between current national policies and the targets set under the Paris Agreement.

Conflicts, particularly in Ukraine and the Middle East, took up much of the assembly’s attention. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s appeal for continued international support in countering Russia’s aggression resonated strongly. Similarly, the escalating violence between Israel and Hamas, following the outbreak of war in Gaza, dominated side discussions. While global leaders emphasized the need for peace and negotiated settlements, concrete outcomes on these conflicts were limited, with only broad reaffirmations of the need for dialogue and diplomacy.

In the humanitarian space, the 2024 assembly underscored the importance of addressing antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which is an increasingly urgent global health issue. The rising threat of AMR is considered a “silent pandemic” that could undermine the effectiveness of modern medicine. Leaders committed to increased investment in research and development to combat this threat, particularly focusing on the importance of equitable access to treatments for low- and middle-income countries.

The summit also reflected on the importance of nuclear disarmament, with a renewed call for diplomatic solutions to ongoing tensions with nations like North Korea and Iran. However, the path forward on disarmament remains contentious, as security concerns and geopolitical rivalries complicate efforts to reduce nuclear arsenals globally.

Despite the ambitious goals of the summit, there were critiques regarding missed opportunities, particularly in achieving consensus on key reforms. The slow pace of reform within the UN itself remains a concern for many member states, especially those calling for a more inclusive Security Council that better reflects the realities of the 21st century.

In conclusion, the 2024 UNGA summit laid important groundwork for addressing future global challenges, with the Pact for the Future and the Global Digital Compact standing out as significant steps towards international cooperation in an increasingly digital and complex world. However, the discussions also revealed deep divisions on issues like climate finance and geopolitical conflicts, indicating that while the summit provided a platform for urgent issues to be aired, many challenges remain unresolved, awaiting concrete action in the years ahead.