Submit your Article

World leaders on Monday adopted the potentially game-changing Pact for the Future by consensus, with a small group of just seven countries holding out, having failed to pass a last-minute amendment.  The centerpiece of the Summit of the Future is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reimagine the multilateral system and steer humanity on a new course to meet existing commitments and solve long-term challenges.

The Global Digital Compact and the Declaration on Future Generations was adopted by consensus, despite a last-minute proposal for an amendment by some countries, including Russia, Iran, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and Syria. The amendment sought to incorporate text calling for non-intervention in any issue of national sovereignty, and the primacy of intergovernmental deliberation, in effect, downplaying the role of the civil society or private sector interests. It was rejected after the 193-member Assembly decided not to act on the proposal.The pact’s five broad focus areas include sustainable development; international peace and security; science and technology; youth and future generations; and transforming global governance. This has become an urgent pivot, as multilateral financial institutions and even the United Nations itself have come up short seeking solutions to 21st century problems, the pact lays out.

By endorsing the Pact, UN Member States pledged, among other things, to:

• Turbocharge the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement on climate change, two landmark 2015 agreements that have seen halting progress and missed milestones
• Listen to young people and include them in decision-making, at the national and global levels
• Build stronger partnerships with civil society, the private sector, local and regional authorities
• Redouble efforts to build and sustain peaceful, inclusive and just societies and address the root causes of conflicts
• Protect all civilians in armed conflict
• Accelerate the implementation of our commitments on women, peace and security

The Global Digital Compact marks the first truly worldwide agreement on the international regulation of artificial intelligence (AI) and is founded on the idea that technology should benefit everyone. It outlines commitments to ensure that digital technologies contribute to sustainable development and human rights, while addressing risks like digital divides, cybersecurity, and misuse of technology.

The compact aims to bridge the digital divide and ensure AI technologies are used responsibly, fostering global cooperation on both AI capabilities and security threats. Governments are also obligated to form an impartial worldwide Scientific Panel on AI and start an international conversation about AI governance inside the UN.

The Declaration on Future Generations focuses on securing the well-being of future generations, also highlighting the need to include their interests in decision-making processes.It also underlines the importance of protecting the environment, promoting intergenerational equity and ensuring that long-term consequences of today's actions are considered.

Speaking after the adoption, Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized that the Pact for the Future and its annexes, “open pathways to new possibilities and opportunities.”

“People everywhere are hoping for a future of peace, dignity and prosperity. They are crying out for global action to solve the climate crisis, tackle inequality, and address new and emerging risks that threaten everyone,” he said. “They see the United Nations as essential to solving these challenges,” he continued, adding “the Summit of the Future sets a course for international cooperation that can meet their expectations … Now, let’s get to work.”

The adoption was the culmination of months of negotiations co-facilitated by Germany and Namibia. Speaking after the adoption, Philémon Yang, president of the 79th session of the General Assembly, urged nations to move forward together, in a spirit of solidarity and multilateral cooperation. “The path we choose must lead to a future where human dignity is respected and human rights are upheld. A future where peace transcends the mere absence of conflict and is grounded in justice, inclusion, and equity.”

On Monday, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their respective visits to New York for the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

“The India-Nepal friendship is very robust, and we look forward to adding even more momentum to our ties. Our talks focused on issues such as energy, technology, and trade,” Modi said while sharing pictures with Oli on his X account.

Prime Minister Oli also met with the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, at Kuwait’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations. Both leaders discussed matters of mutual interest and explored ways to further strengthen ties between Nepal and Kuwait.

On Sunday, PM Oli delivered a compelling address at the “Summit of the Future” session at the UN headquarters in New York. Representing the Group of Least Developed Countries (LDCs), he highlighted the pressing global challenges facing LDCs, with a focus on poverty, industrialization, and climate justice.

In his speech, PM Oli emphasized the urgent need for industrialization and increased production to combat poverty, a shared challenge for LDCs. He noted that while these countries contribute minimally to global greenhouse gas emissions, they bear the brunt of climate change’s devastating impacts. He called on developed nations to increase their investment in climate financing, underscoring the need for global solidarity.

“Millions of children in LDCs go hungry every day, deprived of their basic rights to food and education,” PM Oli said, stressing that poverty is a significant barrier to a sustainable future for the world’s most vulnerable. He urged for concerted international efforts toward poverty alleviation and highlighted the moral imperative for wealthier nations to address growing inequality.

PM Oli also expressed concern over unmet commitments to Official Development Assistance (ODA), delayed international support, and rising debt distress in LDCs. He raised the issue of the digital divide, which continues to widen the gap between rich and poor countries, and criticized the global financial and trading systems for being fundamentally unfair to LDCs.

Despite these challenges, PM Oli spoke optimistically about the future, welcoming the adoption of the “Pact for the Future” as a blueprint for a peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable world. He called for a renewed commitment to multilateralism and stronger global governance structures that include LDCs in decision-making processes.

The Prime Minister concluded by urging global leaders to invest in productive capacities, sustainable development, and rural upliftment, advocating for meaningful partnerships to ensure equitable progress for all nations.

In addition to his discussions with Prime Minister Modi, Prime Minister Oli held a meeting with UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Sunday. During their conversation, Guterres expressed gratitude for Nepal’s vital contributions to UN peacekeeping operations. Nepal has long been recognized as a steadfast contributor of troops and police to UN missions, reflecting the country’s commitment to maintaining international peace and security.

The two leaders discussed several critical issues, including Nepal’s leadership role as Chair of the Global Coordination Bureau for Least Developed Countries (LDCs). Guterres highlighted the necessity of addressing climate change, particularly concerning mountain regions, which are especially vulnerable to environmental changes. The conversation also emphasized the importance of advancing Nepal’s transitional justice process, an issue of significant national importance.

In a post on X, Prime Minister Oli described the meeting as productive, focusing on essential topics such as transitional justice and climate justice. He expressed optimism about strengthening partnerships for a better future, highlighting Nepal’s commitment to social justice and sustainable development.

According to the Permanent Mission of Nepal to the UN, the discussions covered various aspects of Nepal-UN cooperation. Guterres commended Nepal for its unwavering dedication to the principles outlined in the UN Charter. He reiterated that addressing climate change is a top priority for the UN, particularly the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and assist vulnerable mountain countries like Nepal. The Secretary-General emphasized that adequate climate finance is essential for developing countries, including LDCs, to effectively engage in both mitigation and adaptation efforts.

Prime Minister Oli informed Guterres about the recent enactment of Nepal’s transitional justice law, which adopts a victim-centric approach and aligns with guidance from the Supreme Court and international norms. He assured the Secretary-General of the government’s commitment to implementing this law smoothly to resolve transitional justice issues once and for all.

Furthermore, the Prime Minister highlighted the devastating impacts of climate change on Nepal, specifically mentioning the permafrost issues in Thame, Solukhumbu, that have arisen due to global warming. He stressed the urgency of addressing these challenges and indicated that Nepal would be convening the Sagarmatha Sambad—a dialogue platform focused on the mountain ecosystem—inviting Guterres to participate.

Oli also articulated Nepal’s ambition to graduate from the LDC category by 2026 and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. He urged Guterres to advocate for enhanced development assistance from the international community to support this goal.

During their meeting, Prime Minister Oli reaffirmed Nepal’s commitment to maintaining international peace and security, as the country is the largest Troops and Police Contributing Country (TPCC) to UN peace missions. He appealed to Guterres for the appointment of high-level positions for Nepal both at the UN headquarters and in the field.

Guterres expressed deep concern over the accelerated melting of glaciers and the resultant damage, assuring Prime Minister Oli of his commitment to enhancing resources within the Loss and Damage Fund to support affected countries.

Prime Minister Oli was accompanied by several high-ranking officials, including Minister for Foreign Affairs Arzu Rana Deuba, Chief Advisor to the Prime Minister Bishnu Prasad Rimal, Foreign Secretary Sewa Lamsal, Permanent Representative of Nepal to the United Nations Lok Bahadur Thapa, and Joint-Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai.

In addition to his meetings, Prime Minister Oli addressed the “Parliamentary Forum on Financing the Future: Aligning Finance with the Promise of the Paris Agreement” as the keynote speaker. In his address, he stressed the critical importance of phasing out fossil fuels to prevent catastrophic climatic disasters that are becoming more frequent and severe. He urged for increased investment in green and renewable energy technologies, advocating for a just transition to renewable energy and better access to climate funds for vulnerable countries.

Meanwhile, the United Nations High Representative for Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries, and Small Island Developing States, Undersecretary-General Rabab Fatima, also paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Oli. During their discussion, they exchanged views on the Nepal-UN partnership, the ongoing efforts to help Nepal graduate from the LDC category, and preparations for the upcoming Third International Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC3).

Prime Minister Oli arrived in New York on Friday on a 10-day visit, marking his first foreign engagement since his reappointment as Prime Minister on July 15.

During the session titled ‘Rethinking Development and Diplomacy in the Digital Age’ at the Kathmandu Kalinga Literary Festival, former Indian ambassador to Nepal, Ranjit Rae, emphasized the importance of credibility in diplomacy. He noted that people play a central role in influencing government decisions, pointing to recent events in Bangladesh and the 2006 people’s movement in Nepal. “People are at the center of everything. Public diplomacy has played a huge role in India-Nepal relations, not always positively. It can work both ways,” Rae remarked.

Reflecting on his tenure as ambassador during a challenging period, Rae recalled, “I was in Nepal during the constitution-writing process and the protests in Tarai.” He also mentioned his book, ‘Kathmandu Dilemma: Resetting India-Nepal Ties’, which he wrote to address misconceptions about India’s role in Nepal.

In another session titled ‘Writing as Aspiration’, Rae stressed the importance of self-research on regional history and heritage. “What is written about us in the West need not align with our own narratives. It is up to us to research and write about our history,” he said.

Brigadier General Gaurav Kumar KC, spokesperson for the Nepali Army, confirmed that Nepali peacekeepers deployed in Lebanon are safe following recent airstrikes by Israel. 

On Sunday, Israel launched air strikes into Lebanon, claiming to have thwarted a large-scale Hezbollah attack. In response, Hezbollah announced its own cross-border raids to avenge the killing of a top commander. The Israeli military reported that its fighter jets destroyed ‘thousands’ of Hezbollah rocket launchers aimed at both northern and central Israel.

Brigadier General KC stated, “Approximately 850 Nepali peacekeepers are stationed in various parts of Lebanon, but the Israeli attacks did not occur near their locations. The United Nations has already briefed the peacekeepers on safety measures, and Nepali personnel are in contact with the Nepali Army headquarters.”

The United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, and the UNIFIL peacekeeping force have urged all parties to cease fire and avoid further escalation. Lebanon’s health ministry reported at least three fatalities in the Israeli strikes in the country’s south, while no casualties were immediately reported in Israel.