Sami Pirkkala and Rilli Lappalainen (14.9.2024)
The effectiveness of the multilateral system, based on international cooperation and the activities of the United Nations, has significantly weakened over the past ten years. The implementation of the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development and Paris climate agreement has not progressed as planned, and the collective will to promote these goals is under strain. The weak progress is due not only to a lack of political will but also to the UN system’s limited capacity to fulfill its assigned tasks.
In September, the UN will hold a summit on the future, aimed at strengthening the effectiveness of the multilateral system and the UN, thereby accelerating the implementation of sustainable development goals. The summit will address five themes: sustainable development and its financing, peace and security, science, technology, innovation, and digital cooperation, youth and future generations, and the governance of global cooperation.
Negotiations are currently underway among member states regarding the content of the summit’s final document. One of the most challenging issues pertains to the UN’s own development, particularly the reform of the Security Council. Notably, there is still no mention of this in the draft. This dispute is years old and is unlikely to be resolved this time either. However, it is particularly timely now, as the council has been unable to condemn violent actions by Russia and Israel due to the veto power exercised by permanent members. Another difficult discussion concerns increasing the number of permanent or rotating members to better reflect the current global population distribution. Presently, Africa has only three rotating seats but none that are permanent. In total, there are 15 members of the council, five of which are permanent. However, the passage of reforms seems unlikely, as they would require amending the UN Charter, which in turn would need the approval of all permanent member states.
Another significant reform need is to change the international financing structure to meet current needs. Specifically, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank require changes to strengthen trust, improve access to financing, and increase representation for developing countries. Currently, developing nations lack sufficient financing options and should not have to choose between continuing development and combating climate change.
The aforementioned major issues are influenced by the unstable security situation around the world. A key part of the final document is indeed peace and its promotion now and in the future. The UN has an irreplaceable role in maintaining international peace and security. The draft states that member states recognize the interdependence of international peace and security, sustainable development, human rights, and the importance of the rule of law. There are concerns about the potential impacts that the global increase in military spending may have on investments in sustainable development and maintaining peace.
Solutions include strengthening countries’ resilience and addressing the root causes of armed conflicts, violence, and insecurity, among other things, by accelerating investments in the implementation of sustainable development. At the same time, equal access to legal protection must be ensured, civil society space must be protected, and human rights must be respected for all people, including promoting a culture of peace, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence, as well as improving people’s safety in both physical and digital environments.
In these times, multilateral cooperation is needed more than ever. Issues that affect the existence of all humankind must be resolved on a global level. However, individual states can also act actively, leading to increased benefits for them as well. Upcoming discussions about the future of the UN will also affect Finland, not only because Finland seeks membership in the UN Security Council in 2029. This is just before the deadlines for the sustainable development goals, and significant changes in international cooperation will be necessary by then.
Published in Finnish in Turun Sanomat https://www.ts.fi/lukijoilta/6432573