Ensuring UN Resilience Through a Special Envoy for Future Generations

1. Normalizing Long-Term Policy Frameworks

Establishing the Special Envoy for Future Generations and representatives of future generations at local, national and regional levels would institutionalize long-term evaluation frameworks in global policy The significance of this institutional perspective shift cannot be overstated. Guided by future-oriented policy frameworks, governments and the international community can more effectively prevent and address urgent crises, from climate change to disruptive technology.

The Envoy would play a strategic role in developing new policy processes and evaluation mechanisms that better assess the long-term implications of policy decisions. In practice, this looks like more robust and comprehensive impact assessments, future scenario planning, and new benchmarks for sustainability and resilience that are adopted across sectors such as environmental protection, economic development, peace and social justice. In addition, the establishment and work program of the Envoy would stimulate, support and guide the establishment of representatives of future generations at local, national, and regional levels.

Accountability, effective impact and transparency are key elements to ensure broad and continued support from UN members. Measures to facilitate this should be rigorously monitored with regular reporting. In this regard, the establishment of the UN Envoy could learn from successful examples of existing Future Generations Representatives such as the Wales Future Generations Commissioner established by the Wales Wellbeing of Future Generations Act 2015. The act sets specific goals (outcomes), drawing from the UN Sustainable Development Goals, plus 50 measurable indicators of goal achievement.

Transparency and accountability are also reinforced through a General Assembly commission dedicated to future generations. The forum could facilitate productive discourse and collaboration among Member States, but more critically it could also act as a platform for receiving evaluations from the Special Envoy on the intergenerational consequences of policy decisions. This is an especially vital function when the Envoy’s mandate focuses on global existential risks. Other fora, such as the UN Youth Townhall, provide an opportunity for youth to engage meaningfully on the subject, a separate but highly relevant aspect of the Summit that has overlap with the dialogue on future generations. While additional accountability mechanisms will be necessary, these fora can play a pivotal role in challenging the status quo system that has led to gross economic inequalities and compromised the long-term health and stability of our global ecosystems, thereby helping to rebuild public trust.

2. Fostering Intergenerational Equity in Governance Dialogues

The Special Envoy would enshrine the principle of intergenerational equity in global policies. Part of this future-oriented perspective involves anticipating forthcoming challenges, but it also extends to actively shaping a fair and just world for those who will inherit the Earth after us. This governance lens holds current generations responsible for managing resources and making decisions in ways that do not compromise the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

The global civil society campaign for a UN Envoy for Future Generations calls for the parallel “establishment of similar Representatives of Future Generations at regional, national and local levels with authority to design and review policies to safeguard their rights.” The campaign envisages that such representatives would be engaged with the UN Envoy to assist in implementing its mandate in UN Member States, and would also be engaged in a global overview and reporting process in the UNGA on the mandate and work of the UN Envoy. The UN Secretary-General has proposed the establishment of a “General Assembly Commission on Future Generations,” in conjunction with the establishment of the UN Envoy. It “could provide a locus for debate and collaboration by Member States, and a venue to receive assessments from the Special Envoy on the intergenerational impacts of decisions.” The Special Envoy would serve as a vital link, connecting the rights of future generations with enhanced domestic governance mechanisms, and facilitating the collaboration of these domestic mechanisms at the global decision-making level.

One important aspect of this is to involve youth in all levels of decision-making relating to future generations. This is not only significant for intergenerational equity, but it also ensures that the emerging realities experienced by youth, along with the varied voices and perspectives are integrated into policies affecting both current and future generations.

3. Integrating Data and Foresight for Sustainable Global Governance

The rapid pace of scientific and technological progress presents both opportunities and challenges for future generations. As new technologies like artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and nanotechnology continue to evolve, they bring revolutionary potential but also risks that are often overlooked in current policy frameworks. A Special Envoy for Future Generations would have a complementary role in the UN system, particularly in the context of Our Common Agenda, which aims to more effectively harness data and scientific knowledge. By leveraging initiatives such as the Data Strategy of the Secretary-General, the Futures Lab network, and the Strategic Foresight Network of the High-Level Committee on Programmes, the Envoy could systematically generate and act on insights about the future impact of today’s actions.

The establishment of a scientific advisory mechanism, the regular production of a global risks report, and the development of strategic foresight capacities, such as intergenerational solidarity indices, are pivotal steps towards creating a comprehensive evidence base. This integrated approach could include the implementation of future impact assessments or “generational tests” for critical decisions impacting the environment, education, culture, technology, health, or sustainable development (Our Common Agenda, Policy Brief 1, 2023). Additional data on long-term demographic projections and the challenges posed by accelerated urbanization would ensure that policies are systematically “future-proofed,” incorporating an evidence-based understanding of long-term trends that short-term policy could not address. Current research is being conducted by the Simon Institute for Longterm Governance to define future-proofing and develop a framework that considers spatial, temporal, functional, and representational dimensions. The Envoy could champion these and other scientific methodologies, embedding a deeper understanding of ecological and technological thresholds into global governance. This approach ensures that the pursuit of progress does not come at the expense of the planet’s health and the well-being of future generations.

A Special Envoy for Future Generations could represent a major step towards ensuring that future populations are not only considered in today’s policy decisions but also offered a meaningful (virtual) seat at the table: setting agendas, influencing policy, and holding those in power today accountable for the well-being of those who will inherit the Earth. The nature of the Envoy’s scope means measuring its success will be a progressive task. By facilitating multilateral cooperation, institutionalizing long-term policy approaches, and promoting intergenerational equity, the SOTF can pave the way for a more sustainable and equitable world. However, this success is contingent upon the Envoy’s ability to fulfill its mandate and deliver meaningful representation, along with the degree to which UN Member States are willing to establish national representatives of future generations. The Envoy must be equipped with the necessary resources and support from the international community, as well as some degree of authority to ensure Member State engagement and compliance. Without these, the initiative risks becoming a token gesture instead of realizing its potential as a transformative agent for change. The path to a more sustainable future hinges on our collective commitment to equipping the Envoy with the tools needed to effect real change. The potential exists, but the outcome depends on our collective resolve to make it a reality.