Major UN report discusses existential risk and future generations (summary)

Abstract

Throughout history, mankind has encountered existential risks, from nuclear weapons to pandemics. The United Nations (UN) Secretary-General’s report, titled “Our Common Agenda,” recognizes these risks and proposes instruments for managing them. It suggests creating a Futures Lab to assess future impacts and a Special Envoy to assist in long-term thinking and representation of future generations. Furthermore, it recommends repurposing the Trusteeship Council to advocate for future generations’ interests and proposes a Declaration on Future Generations. The report also highlights the need for addressing extreme risks, such as biological attacks, cyberattacks, nuclear events, and environmental disasters. It introduces the concept of an Emergency Platform and a Global Risk Report to tackle these risks. Lastly, the report addresses climate change, space governance, digital commons, lethal autonomous weapons, and pandemic response. – AI-generated abstract.