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Paving the Way to the Pact of the Future: Key Takeaways from the SDSN Portugal High-Level Conference in Lisbon

By SDSN Portugal

On 17 and 18 June 2024, experts, academics, policymakers, and civil society convened in Lisbon, Portugal for the international conference Paving the Way to The Pact of the Future. The conclusions of the conference and the working groups will be published in a document that will be issued shortly and presented in New York in September 2024.

The high-level conference, organized by SDSN Portugal in collaboration with SDSN, brought together a distinguished group of speakers and participants to discuss and shape the future of sustainable development ahead of the UN Summit of the Future.

Over two days, more than 600 participants in-person and online had the opportunity to engage in multi-level dialogues exploring innovative ideas and actionable strategies for advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The conference centered discussion around key inputs to the Summit of the Future, which will be held in September under the auspices of the United Nations with a focus on the transformation of education, the meaningful involvement of young people, and measuring beyond GDP.

In addition, SDSN’s flagship Sustainable Development Report 2024, which annually shows the progress of the 193 UN Member States in meeting the SDGs, was presented during the conference. This year’s edition includes the SDSN’s recommendations of key reforms to the UN system to meet the challenges of the 21st century, a new index of countries’ support to UN-based multilateralism, and new FABLE pathways demonstrating how we can achieve sustainable food and land use systems by mid-century.

The conference featured an impressive lineup of speakers, including: Jeffrey Sachs, President of the SDSN, Elisa Ferreira, Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, European Commission, Amina Mohamed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations; Júlia Seixas, Chair of SDSN Portugal; Maria João Rodrigues, President of FePs, Massamba Thioye, Director of the UN Climate Change Innovation Hub, among many others.

Key Conference Takeaways

  1. Youth Engagement: Several sessions focused on the critical role of youth in shaping the future. Young leaders and activists shared their experiences and called for greater youth participation in decision-making processes at all levels.
  2. Global Cooperation: A session highlighted Portugal's role in cooperating with the Global South, particularly with Portuguese-speaking countries.
  3. Engaging with Academia and the Private Sector for the SDGs: Side meetings with Portuguese rectors and key actors from top Portuguese companies were organized to discuss the need for collaborative initiatives to achieve the SDGs.
  4. Innovative Education: Several sessions emphasized the need to transform education systems. Topics included reimagining knowledge transmission and acquisition models, fostering students’ creativity and talent, innovative approaches to addressing complex real-life challenges and future uncertainty, young people's expectations from formal and non-formal education, and the strategic role of universities in promoting global citizenship.
  5. Local Solutions for Global Challenges: Discussions highlighted the fundamental role of local territories in accelerating SDG implementation. Collaborative approaches with academia were emphasized, where knowledge can be applied to develop solutions tailored to existing challenges. This involvement also enhances students' employability through real-world, oriented work.
  6. Urgency of Action: The concluding panel underscored the need for new multilateral global governance models to ensure commitment and achievement at all levels. These models should reinforce collective efforts in finding adequate solutions, ensuring that people and organizations across various stages of development and geographies have access to necessary positive development opportunities.

Looking Forward

The "Paving the Way for the Pact of the Future" conference in Lisbon was a resounding success, setting the stage for future initiatives and collaborations. As we move forward, SDSN Portugal remains committed to fostering these crucial dialogues and supporting impactful projects that drive global sustainable development.

The next event to follow will take place in November at CEiiA (Matosinhos, Portugal) and will focus on enhancing cooperation between universities and municipalities. This initiative aims to actively involve students in diagnosing challenges and developing solutions for achieving the SDGs at the local level.

Watch the conference here: DAY 1: 17th June | DAY 2: 18th June

Please note that the language of the sessions are English and Portuguese without translation.

See full agenda at https://sdsnportugal.pt/en/#programas-section

The presentations are available here