79 years ago, we established the United Nations, agreeing on a vision to protect all of the world’s peoples and the sovereignty of all nations.
A vision for a world where no country dominates and no country is dominated.
Yet these ideals endure more in promise than in practice.
Our shared challenges are only getting bigger, but trust that this UN system can deliver for everyone continues to decline.
As our challenges evolve, the UN has not evolved in turn.
The Pact for the Future is a sign of what we can still achieve together, but our inability to agree on so many issues prevents us from addressing today’s challenges.
We need to reform the UN system.
But reform cannot become a means for disruptors to undermine elements of the UN system that protect us all.
It must be about meeting the needs of all countries – including small and medium countries – rather than increasing the power of a few.
We need a reformed UN Security Council that includes representation from Africa, Latin America and the Asia-Pacific and where small states see their interests reflected and voices heard.
We need stronger peacebuilding and conflict prevention architecture.
And we need to strengthen resolve to achieve peace in Ukraine, Gaza and Sudan.
Last month we marked the 75th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions.
A reminder of a time when the international community agreed rules to limit human suffering in conflict.
We are falling short of that commitment, with 2024 shaping up to be the deadliest year on record for humanitarian personnel.
Australia has listened to humanitarian leaders’ calls for greater protection of aid workers, and we are taking action.
This week, Australia is convening ministers and humanitarian leaders to begin work on a new Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel.
Just as we are listening to our friends in the developing world, and we are taking action.
With just over five years to 2030, we are falling behind on the SDGs.
Over a third of the SDG’s are stalled or regressing, climate change is upending development gains, and finance targets are not being met.
Australia has listened to calls from Pacific Island nations for breakthroughs on climate change, and together we have taken action.
Australia and Tuvalu’s Falepili Union is the first time two nations have recognised, in a legally binding treaty, continuing statehood and sovereignty, notwithstanding the impacts of climate change-related sea-level rise.
Australia has listened to calls to advance the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index and the Bridgetown initiative, and taken action.
Australia will offer Climate Resilient Debt Clauses in our sovereign loans by the end of 2025 to help developing countries build economic resilience in the face of climate change and other shocks, resist coercion and focus on delivering for their citizens.
Australia has listened to calls for smarter and greater financing and taken action.
This year, Australia committed $492 million to the Asian Development Fund replenishment round, working with Japan to unlock a record $5 billion in new assistance over the next decade to the region’s most vulnerable countries.
Australia has listened to calls to lessen the digital divide and taken action. We are building sustainable south-south connectivity via submarine cables across the Pacific and Timor-Leste.
In so many ways, Australia is already delivering on the Pact for the Future.
We will continue to act, because the UN cannot reform itself – this is a job for all of us, collectively, as Member States.
It is up to us – our Summit, our UN, our future.
