Mondial Article (Summer 2024)

Ensuring UN Resilience Through a Special Envoy for Future Generations

Erica Wilson

Erica Wilson

Erica Wilson is the Communications Coordinator at the World Federalist Movement – Canada. She holds a Master’s of Global Affairs and has interned in UNICEF’s Human Rights Unit in Geneva. Erica is dedicated to empowering youth voices in advocacy and policy spaces, from global to local.

Alyn Ware

Alyn Ware

Alyn Ware is the Program Director for World Federalist Movement – Institute for Global Policy, Global Coordinator for Parliamentarians for Nuclear Nonproliferation and Disarmament, Peace and Disarmament Program Director for the World Future Council and Director of Basel Peace Office.

The UN Secretary-General’s proposal to establish a Special Envoy for Future Generations is gaining traction, including in preparations for the UN Summit of the Future (SOTF). The proposal is linked to efforts to expand the number and authority of representatives (i.e. commissioners, ombudspersons) for future generations at local, national and regional levels. In light of the growing urgency of global issues including resource depletion, conflict, technological disruption, and climate change, this project seeks to reflect the rights and interests of future generations in today’s policy decisions.

At all levels of governance  local, national, regional, and global  representatives of future generations would advocate for long-term policies that consider and protect intergenerational rights and well-being in decision-making processes. There are already a number of existing examples, including the Wales Future Generations Commissioner, Gibraltar Commissioner for Sustainable Development and Future Generations, and the Hungary Ombudsman for Future Generations. These positions are very different from youth representatives, such as the UN Assistant Secretary-General for Youth, national Ministers for Youth, or Youth Advisory Councils, the latter are composed of young leaders from diverse backgrounds, representing the interests and perspectives of today’s youth. Representatives of future generations represent the rights and well-being of those who will live in this world next year, next decade, next century, and far into the future.

The existing examples of representatives of Future Generations vary in their authority and impact. Those campaigning for a UN Special Envoy envision the position carrying substantial influence and providing meaningful representation for advocates of future generations. However, governments who don’t want strong oversight of their policies and actions resist granting significant authority to such an envoy. A core concern of supporters of the proposal is that if the Envoy lacks the power and influence to effect change, it could become a symbolic entity instead of a transformative force.

There is the risk, for example, that Member States will continue to focus on immediate political and economic gains, disregarding the Envoy’s recommendations. Additional challenges arise concerning the Envoy’s ability (or inability) to hold powerful nations and multinational corporations accountable for actions that harm future generations.

The proposal draws inspiration from the process used to establish a youth representative at the UN. This process started with establishing a UN Envoy for Youth with very little authority, but then transitioned, through a 2022 UN General Assembly resolution, into a more authoritative UN Office for Youth led by an Assistant Secretary-General for Youth. A similar process for the Envoy on Future Generations could ensure that the authority of the position expands over time to ensure a much stronger role in building and implementing key normative changes to guide 21st century global reform toward resilience.

The 2024 UN Civil Society Conference featured an interactive “Youth Hub” for dedicated youth networking, caucusing, and events. Credit: UNIS

The 2024 UN Civil Society Conference featured an interactive “Youth Hub” for dedicated youth networking, caucusing, and events. Credit: UNIS

The Value of a UN Envoy for Future Generations in Global Governance

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.

1945
1945

Charter of the United Nations

Opens with promise to succeeding generations.

1972
1972

Declaration of the UN Conference on the Human Environment

“to defend and improve the human environment for present and future generations has become an imperative goal.”

1987
1987

Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development

“We borrow environment capital from future generations with no intention or prospect of repaying… We act as we do because we can get away with it: future generations do not vote; they have no political or financial power; they cannot challenge our decision.”

1997
1997

Declaration on the Responsibilities of the Present Generations Towards Future Generations

“Present generations have the responsibility of ensuring that the needs and interests of present and future generations are fully safeguarded.”

2015
2015

Paris Agreement and 2020 Agenda for Sustainable Development

“We will implement he Agenda for the full benefit of all, for today’s generation and for future generations.”

2020
2020

UN 75 Declaration on the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the UN

“To strengthen coordination and global governance for the common future of present and coming generations.”

2024
2024

UN Summit for the Future

What will be the Legacy of the Special Envoy Initiative?

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.

Mondial Summer 2024 - US Edition - Thumbnail of the Cover

Mondial is published by the Citizens for Global Solutions (CGS) and World Federalist Movement — Canada (WFM-Canada), non-profit, non-partisan, and non-governmental Member Organizations of the World Federalist Movement-Institute for Government Policy (WFM-IGP). Mondial seeks to provide a forum for diverse voices and opinions on topics related to democratic world federation. The views expressed by contributing authors herein do not necessarily reflect the organizational positions of CGS or WFM-Canada, or those of the Masthead membership.

Anthony Vance

Anthony Vance

Senior Representative, Bahá'ís of the U.S. Office of Public Affairs

Anthony oversees the development of the Bahá'ís of the United States Office of Public Affairs programs and strategic direction. He joined the office in 2010 after spending four years at the Baháʼí World Center in Haifa, Israel representing it to the diplomatic community, civil society, and parts of the host government. A lawyer by training, he spent 21 years in the U.S. Agency for International Development in legal and managerial positions in Washington, Cote d’Ivoire, Kenya, Botswana, and Egypt. Anthony holds a B.A. in Economics, an MBA, and a J.D. from Harvard University.

James Lowell May

James Lowell May

Program Officer

James May is a programme and project development specialist. He has lived in Serbia since 2005, and prior to joining Citizens for Global Solutions, worked across the Western Balkans on a broad range of issues including human, minority and child rights, accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity, Holocaust commemoration, democratic participation, social justice and economic empowerment, and environmental restoration.

James began working in the Western Balkans on issues related to accountability for human rights violations, first for the Youth Initiative for Human Rights, a coalition of NGOs active in the countries of the former Yugoslavia, as the network’s development coordinator, then the Lawyers’ Committee for Human Rights, leading a research project documenting the nomenclatural of the Milosevic Regime, and then the Federation of Jewish Communities in Serbia, running a Holocaust research and education project.

James then transitioned from accountability to efforts to protect and fulfil the rights of marginalised communities. For a decade James worked for the Centre for Youth Integration, an NGO that provides specialized services for children and youth in street situations in Belgrade, where he began as a volunteer before taking up a permanent role, while concurrently volunteering for community mental health organizations, as well as consultancy work for a number of local and international organizations, and most recently branched out to apply his experience to the environmental sector, focussing on social impact assessments and community-oriented nature-based solutions projects.

James has a degree in Archaeology from University College London. He was born and grew up in Great Britain. He is an avid cyclist.

Honorable David J. Scheffer

Honorable David J. Scheffer

Former U.S. Ambassador

Amb. David J. Scheffer is senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), with a focus on international law and international criminal justice. Scheffer was the Mayer Brown/Robert A. Helman Professor of Law (2006-2020) and is Director Emeritus of the Center for International Human Rights at Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law. He is Professor of Practice at Arizona State University (Washington offices). He was Vice-President of the American Society of International Law (2020-2022) and held the International Francqui Professorship at KU Leuven in Belgium in 2022. From 2012 to 2018 he was the UN Secretary-General’s Special Expert on UN Assistance to the Khmer Rouge Trials, and he was the Tom A. Bernstein Genocide Prevention Fellow working with the Ferencz International Justice Initiative at the Simon-Skjodt Center for the Prevention of Genocide, U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum (2019-2021).

During the second term of the Clinton Administration (1997-2001), Scheffer was the first ever U.S. Ambassador at Large for War Crimes Issues and led the U.S. delegation to the UN talks establishing the International Criminal Court (ICC). He signed the Rome Statute of the ICC on behalf of the United States on December 31, 2000. He negotiated the creation of five war crimes tribunals: the International Criminal Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, the Special Court for Sierra Leone, the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, and the ICC. He chaired the Atrocities Prevention Inter-Agency Working Group (1998-2001). During the first term of the Clinton Administration (1993-1997), Scheffer served as senior advisor and counsel to the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Dr. Madeleine Albright, and he served on the Deputies Committee of the National Security Council. Ambassador Scheffer received an A.B. (Government and Economics) from Harvard College, B.A. (Honour School of Jurisprudence) from Oxford University (where he was a Knox Fellow), and LL.M. (International and Comparative Law) from Georgetown University Law Center.

Alex Andrei

Alex Andrei

Director of Technology and Design

Alex is an experienced professional in designing digital products, managing online applications, and providing IT consulting services. Their background is in working with online applications design, digital accessibility, learning management platforms, user experience and interface design for online and mobile applications. They have over 10 years of experience working with higher-education institutions, nonprofits, and business.

He believes that in today’s rapidly evolving landscape, organizations need to adapt and thrive in the digital realm to gain a competitive edge and be as successful as they can be. Alex specializes in supporting organizations in their digital transformation initiatives and creating effective user experiences and driving efficiency through technology to empower people.

As Director of Technology and Design, Alex focuses on identifying opportunities to integrate various technologies in ongoing operations and new initiatives at CGS to support programs, partners, and team members in achieving their goals.

Alex has a passion strategically leveraging cutting edge technologies to maximize the value of what can be done with limited resources to create a lasting impact and great experiences for people.

Jon Kozesky

Jon Kozesky

Director of Development 

Jon brings over 17 years of experience in development and fundraising in both the public and private sectors.  He started his career in politics working in the Ohio Statehouse and later in the office of U.S. Congressman Steven LaTourette, as well as former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. After leaving Capitol Hill, Jon pursued his passion of helping nonprofits secure the resources they needed to best serve their constituents. This passion led to his founding of Jon Thomas Consulting, a boutique nonprofit management and development firm serving organizations across the United States and throughout the world in streamlining their processes and maximizing their revenue growth through grant writing, government affairs, donor stewardship, and major event planning.

Prior to his fundraising career, Jon proudly served his community as a firefighter and water rescue diver. In his personal time, Jon is a champion competitive sailor and a bit of a thrill-seeker, having skydived and bungee jumped on 6 continents.