The Summit of the Future: A QUT Symposium

Agenda:

This symposium focuses on the recent United Nations Summit for the Future, and its main outcomes – the Pact for the Future, the Global Digital Compact, and the Declaration on Future Generations. This symposium will analyse the negotiations over the Summit for the Future, and critically evaluate the key themes and outcomes of the event.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasized at the Summit for the Future: ‘We can’t create a future fit for our grandchildren with systems built for our grandparents.’ He highlighted that people are ‘crying out for global action to solve the climate crisis, tackle inequality, and address new and emerging risks that threaten everyone.’ Guterres emphasized that ‘the Summit of the Future is a chance to create more effective and inclusive institutions.’

The Pact for the Future will actively seek to transform and scale-up existing commitments for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Pact for the Future will seek to bolster international peace-making and security. The Pact for the Future promotes the sharing of the benefits of technology, science, and innovation, and encourages digital co-operation. The Pact for the Future aims to support youth and future generations. The Pact for the Future seeks to transform global governance and improve the operation of international institutions, such as the Security Council, the Peacebuilding Commission, and

international financial architecture. It also aims to strengthen human rights, gender equality and the empowerment of women, and protect Indigenous Knowledge and rights.

This symposium will also evaluate the Global Digital Compact – which seeks to establish an inclusive global framework, essential for multi-stakeholder action required to overcome digital, data and innovation divides. The Global Digital Compact seeks to govern artificial intelligence (AI), with a road map that includes an International Scientific Panel and a Global Policy Dialogue on AI.

The symposium will also evaluate the Declaration on Future Generations – which seeks to provide better representation of children, youth, and future generations in national and global decision-making.

This event will feature a range of academic, student, government, and civil society speakers, with a range of expertise. The symposium will be of interest to those interested in energy transition and climate change, sustainable development, international law and humanitarian action, technology regulation, and international institutions.

The event is an in-person event, which will not be live-streamed. The event is free but registration is required. There will be light catering for the event.

This event is hosted by the QUT Energy Transition Centre. The Centre’s vision is to be at the forefront of the global energy transition, pioneering innovative solutions to secure sovereign supply lines of critical minerals and energy technologies, promote renewable energy adoption, enhance energy security, and ultimately provide real-world opportunities to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. The Centre’s co-directors are Professor Sara Couperthwaite and Professor Raja Jurdak.

Speakers

Dr Muhammad Zaheer Abbas, QUT Faculty of Business and Law

Associate Professor Justine Bell-James, the University of Queensland

Electra Carpenter, QUT

Dr Samuli Haataja, Griffith University

Associate Professor Steven Hail, Torrens University and the Modern Money Lab

Associate Professor Marianne Hanson, the University of Queensland, and the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN)

Amy Jones, QUT

Professor Raja Jurdak, Co-director of the QUT Energy Transition Centre

Abigail Loxley, QUT

David Mejia-Canales, Human Rights Law Centre

Professor Matthew Rimmer, QUT Faculty of Business and Law

Russell Rollason, Peace-Building Initiative, the University of Melbourne

Himani Sabharwal, PhD Candidate, QUT Faculty of Business and Law

Professor Tapan Sarker, University of Southern Queensland

Dr Viviana Muñoz Tellez, The South Centre

Fien Van den Steen, the University of the Sunshine Coast

Professor Clevo Wilson, QUT Faculty of Business and Law

 

Details:

Location: QUT Gardens Point [" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">link to map]
Start Date: 29/11/2024 [add to calendar]
Start Time: 9:00 am
End Date: 29/11/2024
End Time: 5:00 pm
Cost: Free
Organiser: QUT Energy Transition Centre - Professor Matthew Rimmer
Enquiries: Professor Mather Rimmer
Register: