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Our Takeaway from the Summit of the Future:

Achieving the SDGs and Agenda 2030 Requires New Knowledge Practices and Human-Centered Approaches

The Summit of the Future reaffirmed that achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Agenda 2030 relies not only on high-level policy frameworks but also on inclusive, human-centered approaches. At Sustainable Communications, we recognize the importance of engaging grassroots communities through innovative knowledge practices informed by behavioral science.

The Three Agreements: A Foundation for Action

World leaders adopted three cornerstone agreements: the Pact for the Future, the Global Digital Compact, and the Declaration on Future Generations. While these agreements provide a foundation for action, they also highlight the need to address critical gaps in collective action, particularly at the grassroots level. The real challenge lies in translating these commitments into tangible, people-centered results.

Inclusivity Begins at the Grassroots

Sustainable development cannot succeed without including the voices of those most affected. The Pact for the Future catalyzes multilateral cooperation, but its success hinges on engaging communities that often bear the brunt of global challenges. To achieve the SDGs, we need knowledge practices that prioritize social and behavior change, utilizing insights from behavioral science to understand the motivations and barriers faced by local populations.

Youth Leadership: Power is Earned, Not Given

A compelling theme from the Summit was the focus on youth leadership and intergenerational equity. The Declaration on Future Generations recognizes the essential role young people play in shaping our future. As digital natives, their expertise in leveraging new technologies for social good is invaluable, but they require resources, platforms, and mentorship to drive meaningful change.

The Role of Sustainable Communications

Sustainable Communications represented a vision for a “digital future for all.” In collaboration with ITU and UNDP, we engaged 6,500 respondents across 148 countries in a global campaign to capture diverse insights. The responses informed the Pact of the Future and underscored the need to responsibly harness digital technologies for a better tomorrow. These diverse perspectives reinforce the notion that our path forward must include the voices of all stakeholders, particularly those at the grassroots level.