THE UN AT 75: CEAR THINKING AROUND FUTURE POSSIBILITES FOR GLOBAL COOPERATION

Last month we began sharing articles exploring challenges and opportunities facing the UN in its 75^th year. This month we share more articles on a similar theme – taking diverse approaches to the possibilities for global cooperation at the UN.

• Tackling the Inequality Pandemic: A New Social Contract for a New Era by Antonio Guterres The UN Secretary-General delivered this important Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture, on 18 July.

• UN chief slams 'myths, delusions and falsehoods' around inequality, a brief summary and review of the lecture from The Guardian newspaper.

• Stepping Stones for a Better Future: 10 Ideas for World Leaders Who are Serious About Building Back Better  A Report produced after extensive consultation by Together First, a coalition of over 175 global organisations.

• Could the SDGs Deliver on Their Promises? A Dialogue from the NewInternationalist Journal with two different views about the likelihood of the Sustainable Development Goals being achieved by 2030.

No-one can doubt that 2020 is a year of crisis in human affairs. And this is having an impact on possibilities and difficulties in the evolution of the cooperative spirit at the UN – just as it is having an impact on every area of life at city, provincial and national levels.

Recent articles highlight some of the challenges and opportunities of this crisis time at the UN. Coming posts on the Blog will feature more articles with different perspectives on this theme. The goal is to help readers deepen their understanding of elements of power politics and the relations between national sovereignty and the increasing need for globally coordinated responses to problems arising from our interdependence.  Where is the spirit of cooperation for the common good growing in the realpolitik of the UN? where is its absence being highlighted? and what are the different pathways for empowering the cooperative spirit at the UN?

• The UN’s 75th Birthday: A Critical Chance for the Globe to Save Itself - from Passblue

• UN Forum offers 'Sobering' Vision of SDGs Progress and New Virtual Reality - from Devex

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for shared responsibility and global solidarity as essential to eliminating the virus and the rebuilding of world economy along sustainable lines.

In a recent interview he also speaks about mass  digitalization as a secondary effect of the virus and the potential for advances in artifiical intelligence that this brings. He cites the need for regulations and mechanisms that ensure this new technology is done for the benefit of all humanity.

An event in the framework of the World Interfaith Harmony Week, 4 February 2020,
Palais des Nations, Geneva - Room XXII, 14:00-17:00
organised by the Foundation for Gaia and the NGO-Alliance on Global Concerns
Moderated by Lucis Trust – World Goodwill Geneva

To mark its 75th anniversary in 2020, the United Nations is igniting "the world's biggest conversation", UN75. Launched by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, it promises to be the largest and furthest-reaching global conversation ever on building the future we want.