This blog has been produced by the C4UN Communications Team. The content is based on sources who spoke to C4UN on a not-for-attribution basis because they are not authorized to speak publicly on the Summit of the Future outcomes.
Thursday 19th September
Oh, dear… Silence has broken again…
Russia has broken the silence on all three outcome documents of the Summit of the Future.
On the Pact for the Future, Pakistan’s Like-Minded Group (LMG) broke on the same issues as in Rev.4, and Saudi Arabia broke on the fossil fuels language.
Next steps are unclear, but stay tuned for more!
Thursday 19th September
Rev. 5 Out NOW!
Rev. 5 of the Pact for the Future has just been released (shortly after 10 a.m. EDT). All three Summit outcome documents will be silenced until 6 p.m. EDT today (Thursday, September 19th).
Tuesday 17th September
Message from the Co-Facilitators of the Pact for the Future
“Following the most recent message, in which the Co-Facilitators indicated that 172 Member States did not break silence on the Rev.4 text and that silence was not broken on 59 out of 86 paragraphs, the Co-Facilitators have been in touch with delegations to seek their views on how to proceed. This afternoon, the President of the General Assembly also convened a meeting with representatives of the different groups on the next steps.
It is clear from these consultations that the overwhelming view of most delegations is that they value the balance that was struck in Rev. 4 and that their ability to refrain from silence breaks was thanks to this balance. Most delegations do not wish to reopen the text of Rev.4, even if they understand that small adjustments may be necessary to some of the paragraphs on which silence was broken, in order to bring us towards greater compromise.
As indicated in their most recent letter, the Co-Facilitators share the view that Rev.4 is the most ambitious and balanced text possible. They also share the concern that any significant changes have the potential to alter the balance of the text and wish to recognize the restraint exercised by the 172 Member States that did not break silence. Nonetheless, silence was broken on 8 paragraphs by multiple delegations and by a single delegation on additional paragraphs, and Member States have decided in resolution 76/307 that the Pact is to be agreed in advance by consensus.
At the meeting today, the President of the General Assembly requested that a text be submitted to him on Thursday morning. In a final attempt for the Co-Facilitators to arrive at a text that can be agreed by consensus, the Co-Facilitators will make themselves available to all delegations that wish to present bridging proposals with cross-regional support on the paragraphs on which silence was broken in conference room 12 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., in view of the decision taken today at the emergency special session to suspend its debate and proceed to the consideration of draft resolution A/ES-10/L.31/Rev.1 at 11 a.m.
The Co-Facilitators will continue their outreach and share an update later in the day.”
Monday 16th September
Silence broken… Again…
On Monday, 16th September, the silence was broken on 8 paragraphs by multiple delegations, including paragraphs 20, 28 (a and f), 35 (h), 42 (action title, chapeau, a and b), 78, 80 (b), 82 and 85 (b).
The Russian Federation also broke silence on an additional 19 paragraphs and an additional number of subparagraphs, including: paragraphs 12, 24 (a), 28 (c-d), 32, 33, 35 (c and g), 39 (g), 43 (chapeau, b and e), 45, 47 (a and e), 48 (chapeau, a, c-d, f and h), 49 (a-b), 50 (action title, chapeau and a-f), 52, 54 (a), 56 (b), 68 (d), 73 (d), 74 (b), 75 (a and d), 76 (action title, chapeau and a-b) and 85 (a and e).
Member States won’t convene on Tuesday due to the Emergency Special Session being convened at the UN, but that won’t stop small groups and WhatsApp negotiations from going full steam ahead as the race against the clock intensifies.
Monday 16th September
Update: The Declaration on Future Generations remains open for negotiation
This afternoon, Member States are gathering in small groups at the UN Headquarters in New York to negotiate multiple paragraphs of the Declaration on Future Generations.
Friday 13th September
The Declaration on Future Generations remains open for negotiation
This afternoon, Member States are gathering in small groups at the UN Headquarters in New York to negotiate multiple paragraphs of the Declaration on Future Generations.
Rev. 4 Out Now
Need some weekend reading? Rev.4 of the Pact for the Future is out now!
Thursday 12th September
Why is it so loud in here? Silence has broken…
Silence broke on Rev.3 of the Pact for the Future and Member States have spent the past week frantically negotiating at the UN (and over WhatsApp believe it or not) to reach a compromise on some of the most contentious issues. As world leaders, diplomats, and officials grapple with climate, disarmament, international financial institutions (IFIs), and human rights, tensions are high and compromises hard to come by. Let’s dive into what’s been happening behind closed doors and where things stand as we head into the next critical phase.
The silence broke on Rev.3 of the Pact for the Future, and Member States have spent the past week frantically negotiating at the UN (and over WhatsApp, believe it or not) to reach a compromise on some of the most contentious issues. As world leaders, diplomats, and officials grapple with climate, disarmament, international financial institutions (IFIs), and human rights, tensions are high, and compromises are hard to come by. Let’s dive into what’s been happening behind closed doors and where things stand as we head into the next critical phase.
Climate: Still in Hot Water
The climate talks have been, well, heated. Despite multiple rounds of discussions, progress has been tough, and this issue remains open. With so much at stake for the planet’s future, negotiators are struggling to find common ground, particularly on climate financing. Will we see a breakthrough? Or will climate action continue to face roadblocks?
Disarmament: Moving Forward (Kind Of)
While the climate discussions stall, disarmament negotiations have fared slightly better. Progress has been made, and the overall tone here has been relatively positive. Don’t break out the champagne just yet—there’s still a long way to go—but compared to other areas, disarmament is moving.
International Financial Architecture and Institutions: A Long Road Ahead
Negotiations on International Financial Architecture (IFA) reform and International Financial Institutions (IFIs) are proving to be a serious sticking point. The G77 is pushing for ambitious language that other Member States (largely from the Global North) find hard to swallow. The big issue here? A likely trade-off between human rights and IFIs language is shaping up to be a major challenge. Compromise looks distant, and there’s a real chance that these negotiations could drag on.
Human Rights: Attempts to Weaken and Water Down
It’s been a tough week for human rights language. The co-facilitators’ latest proposal of Action 49 of Rev.3 had significantly watered down critical language on strengthening the human rights pillar. Increasing funding for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) was no longer mentioned, which was a major shortcoming. Fortunately, groups like GRULAC, CANZ, the UK and the EU are pushing hard to re-insert this language and strengthen Action 49, but the battle is far from over.
The Pact: Building (or Breaking) Consensus
Throughout the week, Member States have been flooding the Pact with language proposals, giving the co-facilitators a mountain of content to sift through in the search for compromise. Much of the real action is happening in smaller, frantic groups, where negotiators are scrambling to hammer out language that might bridge the gaps. But as we near the release of Rev.4 (the next anticipated draft of the Pact), nerves are high.
Rev.4 is expected to drop tomorrow night (Friday, 13th September) and will likely be placed under silence until Monday. However, there’s plenty of anxiety about what’s happening behind the scenes, with rumours flying about big changes we haven’t even heard about yet.
Tuesday Night Showdown: Will We Get a Deal?
On Tuesday, 17th September, the negotiations will kick into overdrive, with meetings scheduled until the early hours of the morning. But let’s not get too optimistic—no one expects the entire Pact to be agreed upon by then. The co-facilitators are under immense pressure to generate compromise language, and it’s unclear whether all parties will be willing to play ball.
Russia: The Wild Card
One major concern is Russia. They’ve been highly critical of both the process and the Pact itself, and there’s a strong likelihood they’ll break silence on Rev.4. If they do, it could send negotiations spiralling into even more uncertainty. What happens with Russia over the next few days will be a key indicator of the direction these talks take.
Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR): Holding Strong (For Now)
In a bit of good news, references to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) seem to be holding strong. The UK and Australia are leading efforts here, working closely with Iran and others in a delicate dance. The approach is to accept a weakened version of family language in Chapter 4 (which removes a direct link to gender) in exchange for Iran and other opposing states accepting SRHR and Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) language from Rev.3. So far, this strategy seems to be working.
Civil Society Engagement: A Sticking Point
Another hot topic is civil society engagement. Paragraph 77, which now includes a caveat about engagement being “in line with national legislation and policies,” is causing headaches. CANZ, the EU, and the UK are all pushing for its deletion, but it stubbornly remains in Rev.3. There’s also concern that in the rush to focus on financial language, critical issues like human rights and gender are being sidelined.
Final Thoughts: What’s Next?
As the week draws to a close, we’re left with more questions than answers. Will Rev.4 calm the storm or add fuel to the fire? Will Russia’s silence hold, or will they break ranks? And what about the broader concerns that essential issues—human rights, gender, civil society—are getting lost in the shuffle?
With a new draft expected tonight and a marathon of negotiations lined up for next week, all eyes are on the UN. Buckle up—it’s going to be a wild ride.
Declaration on Future Generations: Surprise Moves and Disappointment
Negotiations on the Declaration on Future Generations took a surprising turn when Rev.3 of the text was unexpectedly sent to the President of the General Assembly (PGA). The problem? No one saw it coming—not even the delegations involved.
The EU, in particular, is not happy. They’re frustrated that none of their proposed edits made it into the version sent to the PGA, leaving them feeling sidelined in the process. Despite this, there are still one or two points of unease over the content of the Declaration itself. While some might want to put a bow on it and call it a day, others are hoping for more changes.
The big question now is: What’s next? The co-facilitators are holding a meeting on Friday, 13th September to discuss the path forward. Will they declare the negotiations closed, or will we see the talks reopen for yet another round of edits? Stay tuned.
Global Digital Compact: Divided Opinions and Unclear Next Steps
Meanwhile, the Global Digital Compact has been inching forward with a series of focused discussions on hot-button issues like internet shutdowns, intellectual property rights, and technology transfers. The text has already been submitted to the PGA, but not everyone’s necessarily on board with the current draft.