SDSN to Host 2025 High-Level Conference on UN Reform

The United Nations is more vital than ever. The world faces conflicts, environmental crises, and disruptions beyond the capacity of national or regional solutions. The case for stronger global governance is overwhelming. However, global governance is under threat due to great-power tensions, insufficient financing, frequent vetoes, limited enforceability of international law, and, in general, shortcomings in the global architecture of global governance.

The Summit of the Future (SOTF) in 2024 discussed some of these structural shortcomings and adopted a Pact for the Future, calling for UN system reform. The challenge now is to implement meaningful reforms that match the needs of our times. Future reforms will most likely require changes to the UN Charter to ensure that the multilateral system is fit for the balance of the 21st century. While the UN Charter was amended several times in its eighty-year history, the most recent amendment was in 1973, more than fifty years ago.

The SDSN will host a one-day, high-level brainstorming on Reform of the UN Charter, with special consideration of Article 109 of the UN Charter, which enables a General Conference of the Members of the United Nations to consider changes to the UN Charter.

Participation is by invitation only.