Glimmers of global progress in a crumbling world

Amid crises, breakthroughs at the G20 and UN offer hope for global cooperation and fairness.

https://www.socialeurope.eu/glimmers-of-global-progress-in-a-crumbling-world



Do you sometimes feel as if the world is falling apart before your eyes? If so, you are not alone. The global human rights landscape is bleak: wars rage on multiple fronts, natural disasters are exacerbated by human folly, and crises demanding urgent solutions and funding seem endless. Yet, recent advances in multilateralism at the Brazil-led G20 and the United Nations provide glimmers of hope. “I don’t read the news anymore.” This sentiment is not unique to my social circle. A Reuters report highlights a growing trend: “Interest in news continues to decline, fuelling disconnection and selective news avoidance.”

It is not difficult to empathise with disengaged citizens. A quick scan of the headlines is enough to dampen anyone’s spirits. Wars in Ukraine, Africa, and the Middle East have intensified geopolitical tensions to levels unseen since the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. The spectre of nuclear war, which haunted my childhood, feels alarmingly real today. Meanwhile, rising polarisation and extreme ideologies threaten multilateralism, the bedrock of global cooperation and human rights protection.

To make matters worse, an extreme concentration of wealth and power in the hands of multinationals and the ultra-wealthy is eroding democratic governance and depriving states of essential revenues to fund public services and uphold human rights. An Oxfam report reveals a stark reality: during the COVID-19 pandemic, the wealth of billionaires surged by forty-six percent, while the wealth of the poorest half of the world’s population declined by two and a half percent. It is enough to make anyone want to look away. But not all is lost. There are spaces where change is taking root. These include not only grassroots initiatives to protect victims and the environment but also notable progress within the global multilateral system.

In September 2024, United Nations member states agreed on a new roadmap aimed at revitalising multilateralism. The “Pact for the Future” seeks to modernise global governance structures to reflect the realities of the twenty-first century. World leaders have pledged to create mechanisms capable of addressing today’s challenges and seizing tomorrow’s opportunities. The overarching goal is a future that is more secure, peaceful, equitable, inclusive, sustainable, and prosperous. These commitments are already beginning to translate into tangible action. In late October 2024, the UN General Assembly approved the Terms of Reference for a Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation. This marks a significant step towards a fairer global tax system capable of raising the resources all countries need to close development gaps, combat inequality, and tackle climate change. Negotiations on this framework will commence in 2025, with implementation expected by 2027.

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