The Summit of the Future: a QUT Symposium
QUT Energy Transition Centre
Venue: GP-C-406, QUT Gardens Point Campus
Friday, 29 November 2024
Overview
This symposium focuses on the recent United Nations Summit of 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 of the Future, and critically evaluate the key themes and outcomes of the event.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasized at the Summit of 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.
Welcome to Country
QUT acknowledges the Turrbal and Yugara as the First Nations owners of the lands where QUT now stands. We pay respect to their Elders, lores, customs and creation spirits. We recognise that these lands have always been places of teaching, research and learning. QUT acknowledges the important role Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people play within the QUT community.
Confirmed 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, the Modern Money Lab, Torrens University
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, 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 AM, 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
Schedule
9:00 Opening of the event
Professor Raja Jurdak, Co-Director, QUT Energy Transition Centre
9:30–10–30
Session 1 Sustainable Development and Financing for Development
Chair
Associate Professor Steven Hail, the Modern Money Lab, Torrens University
1 The Pact for the Future, Climate Change, and the Environment
Associate Professor Justine Bell-James, the University of Queensland
2 Global Value Chain Production of Final Agricultural Products and Food Security: Winners and Losers
Professor Clevo Wilson, QUT Faculty of Business and Law
3 Towards a New Financial System for Sustainable Development and Economic Growth
Professor Tapan Sarker, University of Southern Queensland
10:30–11:30
Session 2 International Peace and Security
Chair
Professor Matthew Rimmer, QUT Faculty of Business and Law
4 Peacebuilding in the Pact for the Future
Russell Rollason AM, the Peacebuilding Initiative, the University of Melbourne
5 The Urgent Need to Eliminate Nuclear Weapons: a Renewed UN Focus
Associate Professor Marianne Hanson, the University of Queensland, and the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN)
6 The Pact for the Future and Responsible State Behaviour in Cyberspace
Dr Samuli Haataja, Griffith University
11:30–12:00
Morning Tea
12:00–1:00
Session 3 Science, Technology, and Innovation and Digital Co-operation
Chair
Dr Muhammad Zaheer Abbas, QUT Faculty of Business and Law
7 The Summit of the Future: Intellectual Property and the Sustainable Development Goals
Professor Matthew Rimmer, QUT Faculty of Business and Law
8 The Pact for the Future and Gender Equality in Science: Inclusion and Participation of Women in STEM
Himani Sabharwal, PhD Candidate, QUT Faculty of Business and Law
9 The Global Digital Compact: What is Next?
Dr Viviana Muñoz Tellez, The South Centre (via video)
1:00–2:00
Lunchbreak
2:00–3:00
Session 4 Youth and Future Generations
Chair
Himani Sabharwal, PhD Candidate, QUT Faculty of Business and Law
10 The Path to National Resilience: Waratah Coal v. Youth Verdict
Electra Carpenter, QUT
11 Empowering Youth and Future Generations: Education for Sustainable Development and UN Pact Actions
Amy Jones, QUT
12 The Declaration on Future Generations: Can it Shift Multilateralism from Presentism to Strategic Foresight?
Fien Van den Steen, the University of the Sunshine Coast
3:00–3:30
Afternoon Tea
3:30–5:00
Session 5 Transforming Global Governance
Chair
Professor Matthew Rimmer, QUT Faculty of Business and Law
13 The Right to a Healthy Environment: A Catalyst for Transformative Action in the UN’s Pact for the Future
Abigail Loxley
14 The Pact for the Future and International Human Rights: Confronting Crises Through a Vision of Human Rights
David Mejia-Canales, Human Rights Law Centre
15 The Pact for the Future and Global Public Health
Dr Muhammad Zaheer Abbas, QUT Faculty of Business and Law
16 Transforming the Global Financial Architecture
Associate Professor Steven Hail, the Modern Money Lab, Torrens University
Programme
1. The Pact for the Future, Climate Change, and the Environment
Associate Professor Justine Bell-James, the University of Queensland
Abstract
Actions 9 and 10 of the Pact for the Future reflect the deep concern in the global community for the intertwined and escalating problems of climate change and biodiversity loss. To this end, the Pact reaffirms important international targets like the Paris Agreement temperature increase targets, and commits parties to actions to address these crises. The key question then is whether there are adequate legal mechanisms in place to allow for this level of ambition to be met. This presentation will provide a broad overview of the current international legal frameworks for climate change and biodiversity loss (the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement, and the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Global Biodiversity Framework). It will outline how both regimes are framework conventions, comprised of bold and ambitious targets, but entirely reliant on domestic pledges to achieve these targets. It will draw on a recent analysis of submitted National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (‘NBSAPs’) ahead of the recent 16th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, and reflect on the gap between ambition and practice. It will conclude that, to operationalise Actions 9 and 10 in the Pact for the Future, we may need to revisit the legal infrastructure for climate change and biodiversity loss.
Biography
Justine Bell-James is an Associate Professor at the TC Beirne School of Law with expertise in environmental and climate change law. Justine’s main research interest is legal mechanisms for the protection, management and restoration of coastal and marine ecosystems. She currently leads an ARC Discovery Project (2019–2023) considering how coastal wetland ecosystem services can be integrated into legal frameworks. She is also currently funded as the legal expert on the $3m CSIRO/BHP project ‘Accelerating Adoption and Implementation of Blue Carbon in Australia’ and on two National Environmental Science Program projects to lead legal analysis on interdisciplinary projects related to coastal wetland restoration. Justine’s work on legal mechanisms to facilitate blue carbon projects in Australia and internationally informed the development of a ‘blue carbon’ methodology under Australia’s Emissions Reduction Fund. This methodology has allowed for the carbon abatement generated by particular coastal restoration activities to receive Australian Carbon Credit Units.
2. Global Value Chain Production of Final Agricultural Products and Food Security: Winners and Losers
Professor Clevo Wilson, Professor of Economics, School of Economics and Finance, QUT Faculty of Business and Law
Abstract
In this brief presentation the current trends in global trade, especially in relation to agricultural goods are discussed. What has been gradually evolving during the last two decades is the widespread replication of industrial production involving global value chains (GVCs) in the production of agricultural final goods. That is, the production of final value-added agricultural products which are ready to be consumed at the point of delivery. Different countries producing portions of the required inputs in this process is now a common practice, examples of which are provided in this presentation. It can also be argued that the emergence of global supermarket chains has largely contributed to this evolution, operation and continued expansion of such GVCs. Interestingly, as much as global food prices have increased in recent years, GVCs generating the best cost advantages have not only kept food prices competitive but also provided a large array of choices to consumers, and in particular to those in developed countries.
While GVCs involved in the production of final agricultural goods is an exciting development, there are other aspects that need to be given serious consideration and which are currently lacking or absent. Examples are the issue of food security, agricultural sustainability and affordability in countries where intermediate good production is occurring. These issues will be discussed in relation to the agricultural trilemma and then connected with GVC’s and their implications. Winners and losers of these emerging trends are briefly discussed.
Biography
Professor Clevo Wilson is an applied economist specialising in agriculture, water, environmental, transport, education, tourism, ecological, energy (especially renewables), and development economics with a special interest in using environmental valuation techniques, both revealed and stated. His research interests also focus on supply chain value analysis, efficiency and productivity analysis and structural equation modelling. He has undertaken research and published papers relating to estimating the economic value of tourism projects and government expenditure on wildlife conservation in local areas, information disclosure, issues relating to market failures, regulation and policy decision-making. He also engages in work related to climate change adaptation, natural disasters concerning property values and the circular economy. He is the outgoing Editor-in-Chief of Economic Analysis and Policy (Elsevier Journal).
3. Towards a New Financial System for Sustainable Development and Economic Growth
Professor Tapan Sarker, the University of Southern Queensland
Abstract
The upcoming Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) highlights the gap between ‘aspiration and financing’. To fulfil the aspiration, we will need a new financial system to overcome the key challenges in financing many of the SDGs as outlined in the 2030 Agenda. This will be particularly important for the developing economies as they will need to mobilize money by involving both the public and the private sectors to work together at scale. But more so, the challenge is fundamentally related to promoting effective governance as it warrants the re-orientation of how public and private actors (including the third sector) interact with each other in a system that achieves results in all the dimensions of sustainable development: environmental, social, and economic. This session considers both academic and practitioner perspectives to delve into both the challenges and opportunities in financing sustainable development. The overriding conclusion is to recognise that while innovative financing solutions are imminent in dealing with the rising challenges such as climate change and achieving SDGs, it needs to be achieved by taking into account the risks, transparency, and voice of the developing countries.
Biography
Professor Tapan Sarker (Ph.D., ANU) is an internationally renowned expert in sustainability and climate finance and is widely published in energy finance, sustainable finance, and low carbon growth. He has been a Chief Investigator of a range of interdisciplinary projects supported by competitive/external funding of over AUD 4.5 million. His research has appeared in many esteemed journals including Global Finance Journal, Economic Modelling, Finance Research Letters, Australian Tax Forum, International Review of Econ & Finance, Pacific Basin Finance Journal, Tech Forecasting and Social Change, Int Journal of Bank Marketing as well as in popular outlets such as ABC Drum, G20 insights, UN ESCAP, Asia Pathways, Griffith Review, The Conversation, and Asian Development Bank (ADB) Institute Working Paper Series. His research has been cited by practitioners as well as government policymakers and international organizations including the Australian Senate, the NSW Parliamentary Committee, the Asian Development Bank, IMF, and UN ESCAP. In 2017, he received the prestigious Queensland Day Award for his work in the broader community from the QLD Govt Minister for Innovation, Science, and the Digital Economy and the Minister for Small Business. His most recently published co-edited Handbook of Sustainable Development and Finance, via De Gruyter (2022) was launched at the UNFCCC event (COP 27) held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.
4. Peacebuilding in the Pact for the Future
Russell Rollason AM, the Peacebuilding Initiative, the University of Melbourne
Abstract
In adopting the Pact for the Future at the United Nations Summit of the Future in September 2024, the nations of the world recognised that ‘the global security landscape is undergoing profound transformation.’ They expressed concern ‘about the increasing and diverse threats to international peace and security’ but remained committed to establishing a just and lasting peace. A key focus of the actions proposed in the Pact is strengthening the UN Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) and encouraging Member States of the UN to make greater use of the Commission in their nationally-owned and -led peacebuilding, sustaining peace and prevention efforts. Member States are encouraged to share good practices among and mobilize political and financial support for national prevention, sustaining peace and peacebuilding efforts. Additional efforts to bring a more strategic approach and greater coherence and impact to national and international peacebuilding will be addressed in the 2025 review of the UN’s peacebuilding architecture. In early 2025, Australia will take up a two year seat on the UN Peacebuilding Commission providing a unique opportunity to contribute to strengthening the UN’s peacebuilding and conflict prevention activities.
Biography
Russell Rollason AM is an Adviser to the University of Melbourne’s Initiative for Peacebuilding and Treasurer for the newly formed Australian Peace and Security Forum.
In 2005 he began a 14-year career with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade including a three year posting in India. During his time at DFAT, he led the establishment of the Australian Water Partnership. He has more than 20 years of experience in civil society organisations, having served 12 years as Executive Director for ACFOA (now the Australian Council for International Development) and four years as the elected Chair of the Geneva based International Council for Voluntary Agencies. In 1998, he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia, for services to international development and humanitarian aid through the Australian Council for Overseas Aid (ACFOA) and promotion of social justice in Australia. He is a science honours graduate from the University of Queensland and Master of General Studies, UNSW.
5. The Urgent Need to Eliminate Nuclear Weapons: a Renewed UN Focus
Associate Professor Marianne Hanson, the University of Queensland, and the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN)
Abstract
The dangers of a nuclear war have increased dramatically in recent years as relations between the major powers deteriorate. Today, there are still over 12,000 nuclear weapons in existence, many of them hundreds of times more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb. The United Nations forged the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in 2017, making these weapons illegal under International Humanitarian Law. Although the treaty has 95 signatures to date and this number is growing, the nine nuclear weapon states and their allies refuse to join it. The UN Secretary General has listed the need to abolish these weapons of mass destruction as among the top priorities for the world and the Sumit for the Future made significant proposals to further this goal.
Biography
Dr Hanson gained her Masters and Doctorate in International Relations from the University of Oxford. She was a Stipendiary Lecturer at Magdalen College, Oxford University prior to taking up an appointment at the University of Queensland in 1995. She specialises in international security issues, and her latest book is Challenging Nuclearism: A Humanitarian Framework to Reshape the Global Nuclear Order (Manchester University Press 2022). Marianne is also Co-Chair of ICAN Australia, which won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2017.
6. The Pact for the Future and Responsible State Behaviour in Cyberspace
Dr Samuli Haataja, Griffith University
Abstract
This paper examines the ‘international peace and security’ aspects of the Pact for the Future with a focus on the public international law dimensions of cybersecurity. While the Pact mentions the need to ‘urgently address accumulating and diverse threats to international peace and security’, including in cyberspace, it is otherwise silent on the threat posed by the malicious cyber activities of States. The draft version of the Pact contained a commitment ‘that all States will be guided in their use of information and communications technologies by agreed norms of responsible State behaviour’ — reaffirming what States have agreed to as part of ongoing United Nations processes related to cybersecurity — but this was removed from the final draft. As such, the Pact is welcome given its commitment to the UN Charter based international legal order, however, it does little to provide clarity to ongoing debates about how international law should apply in cyberspace. Developing this clarity is important as it mitigates the risk of escalation of conflict that can arise from the malicious misuse of these technologies.
Biography
Dr Samuli Haataja is a Senior Lecturer at Griffith Law School, Griffith University. His research explores international law and cyber security, with a focus on state-sponsored cyber operations under public international law. His book Cyber Attacks and International Law on the Use of Force: The Turn to Information Ethics was published by Routledge in 2019, and he has published in various international law and technology journals.
7. The Summit of the Future: Intellectual Property and the Sustainable Development Goals
Professor Matthew Rimmer, QUT Faculty of Business and Law
Abstract
The topic of intellectual property was both a presence and an absence in the Summit of the Future. The director-general of the World Intellectual Property Organization, Daren Tang, spoke at the plenary session of the Summit of the Future, emphasizing: ‘At the same time, as more and more countries use digitalization, entrepreneurship, research and technology to drive growth, IP is shifting from a technical area of interest only to experts to an increasingly important cornerstone of economic and trade policy, and a catalyst for growth and development.’ He concluded that ‘IP is not just about technical IP laws, but [it is] also a catalyst for progress, opportunity, and sustainability.’ However, the texts of the Summit of the Future do not necessarily reflect such a view about the centrality of IP as a catalyst for sustainability.
The draft text of the Pact for the Future contained the action item to ‘uphold intellectual property rights to support developing countries achieve sustainable development’. This draft text affirmed: ‘We recognize the importance of intellectual property rights to progress on science, technology and innovation.’ The draft text called on nation states to ‘protect and enforce intellectual property rights to promote technological innovation, build trust and contribute to the transfer and dissemination of technology on mutually agreed terms’. At the same time, the draft text asked countries to ‘uphold the agreements enshrined in relevant international legal obligations related to trade and intellectual property rights, including the right of Member States to use the flexibilities contained therein, to facilitate access for developing countries to scientific and technological innovations.’ However, this draft text — which represented a re-articulation of the status quo — disappeared from the final version of the Pact for the Future.
Nonetheless, there was discussion of the importance of technology transfer and sharing the benefits of science, technology, and innovation — particularly in Action Item 29. The text emphasized: ‘It is imperative that we collaborate to bridge the science, technology and innovation gap within and between developed and developing countries, to support developing countries to peacefully harness science, technology and innovation to achieve sustainable development, particularly those in special situations, as well as those facing specific challenges.’
The Pact for the Future does contain references to open access, open knowledge, and open innovation. Action Item 29 decides to ‘support the development, deployment and sustainable use of emerging and open source technologies and support policies towards open science and open innovation and know-how for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, especially in developing countries.’ The Global Digital Compact highlights the importance of digital public goods and digital public infrastructure. The Global Digital Compact stresses: ‘We recognize that digital public goods, which include open-source software, open data, open AI models, open standards and open content that adhere to privacy and other applicable international laws, standards and best practices and do no harm, empower societies and individuals to direct digital technologies to their development needs and can facilitate digital cooperation and investment.’ The Global Digital Compact maintains: ‘We consider such digital public goods and digital public infrastructure to be key drivers of inclusive digital transformation and innovation.’
Action Item 32 of the Pact for the Future discusses the importance of Indigenous intellectual property, promising: ‘We will protect, build on and complement Indigenous, traditional and local knowledge’. The text adds: ‘We recognize the need for science, technology and innovation to be adapted and made relevant to local needs and circumstances, including for local communities, traditional afro-descendant populations, and Indigenous Peoples, in line with the principle of free, prior and informed consent, as appropriate.’ There is only a brief glancing reference to ‘Indigenous Peoples’ in the Global Digital Compact. Paragraph 27 on the Declaration on Future Generations calls on states to ‘recognize, respect, promote and protect the rights of Indigenous Peoples, their territories, lands and eco-systems, while safeguarding their traditions, spiritual beliefs and ancestral knowledge, strengthen their distinct political, legal, economic social and cultural institutions, while retaining their right to participate fully, if they so choose, in the political, economic, social and cultural life of the State; and ensure their right to participation in decision-making in matters which would affect their rights, as determined by law and in accordance with international human rights obligations’. It is worth evaluating the significance of such text on Indigenous intellectual property — and broader Indigenous rights — at the Summit of the Future.
Biography
Dr Matthew Rimmer is a Professor in Intellectual Property and Innovation Law at the Faculty of Business and Law, at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT). He has published widely on copyright law and information technology, patent law and biotechnology, access to medicines, plain packaging of tobacco products, intellectual property and climate change, Indigenous Intellectual Property, intellectual property and trade, and 3D printing regulation. He is undertaking research on intellectual property and sustainable development (including the debate over the right to repair); greenwashing; intellectual property, access to essential medicines, and public health (particularly looking at the COVID-19 crisis), and tobacco endgame policies. His work is archived at QUT ePrints, SSRN Abstracts, Bepress Selected Works, and Open Science Framework.
8. The Pact for the Future, and Gender Equality in Science: Inclusion and Participation of Women in STEM
Himani Sabharwal, PhD Candidate, QUT Faculty of Business and Law
Abstract
The Pact for the Future discusses the ambitious goal of achieving an increased participation and representation of girls and women in the field of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) which will in return contribute to their upliftment and development at par with men. This is addressed under Action 31 which has been affirmed by the participating nations as ‘We will ensure that science, technology and innovation improve gender equality and the lives of all women and girls.’
It further explains: ‘Science, technology and innovation can improve gender equality and women’s and girls’ lives. We are gravely concerned about the gender digital divide and that rapid technological change can exacerbate existing gender inequality and present serious risks to all women and girls. We decide to: (a) Address barriers to full, equal and meaningful access to and participation and leadership in science, technology and innovation for all women and girls, including through improving education, employment and research opportunities for women and girls in areas such as science, technology, innovation, mathematics and engineering.’
This presentation will examine the challenges faced globally in increasing women’s participation in STEM research, review the progress made to date by focusing on current statistics included in reports conducted by multiple agencies, highlight collaborative efforts being undertaken, and suggest effective policy integrations to accelerate the goal of achieving gender equality. It is imperative that public and private organizations are held accountable by nations for failing to enact previously agreed agendas in their ratified frameworks or internal policies. The presentation will underline the efforts being undertaken by India and Australia to close the gender gap in STEM by addressing systemic barriers which are also prevalent globally.
Biography
Himani is pursuing her doctoral studies in Personalized Medicine: Patent Law, Medical Diagnostics, and Sustainable Development under the supervision of Professor Matthew Rimmer and Dr. Muhammad Zaheer Abbas at Queensland University of Technology. Prior to this she completed her master’s in Intellectual Property Laws (LLM) from Queen Mary University of London where she successfully wrote her dissertation on ‘Analysing the Behaviour of Non-Practicing Entities and anticipating their effect on the Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Industry’. She has also presented her research paper ‘Biosimilar patenting: A Comparative analysis of various Jurisdiction’ at Symbiosis IPR Conclave 2018. She also holds a bachelor’s in science (BSc.) degree in Zoology Honors from University of Delhi and an LLB degree from Symbiosis Law School, Pune. As a former undergraduate STEM student, her interests focus on the interdisciplinary relationship between emerging fields of science and patent law. The topic of gender equality in STEM holds particular significance for her, as she believes her personal experiences and understanding of grassroots issues enable her to contribute meaningfully to this discourse.
9. The Global Digital Compact: What Is Next?
Dr. Viviana Muñoz Tellez, The South Centre
Abstract
This presentation will examine what was achieved with the Global Digital Compact and what is the prospect for its implementation.
Biography
Dr. Viviana Muñoz Tellez heads the work of the South Centre in the areas of health, intellectual property, biodiversity, providing policy-oriented research, expert advice and technical assistance to countries of the global South. She holds a Doctorate degree on management of technology from the École Polytechnique of Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland and a Master’s degree in Development Management from the London School of Economics (LSE). She regularly publishes works relevant to policy discussions.
10 The Path to National Resilience: Waratah Coal v. Youth Verdict
Electra Carpenter, QUT
Abstract
This presentation proposes how sustainable environmental decision making can strengthen Australia’s national security. Climate change poses a global threat, but governmental institutions can only be as strong as their willingness to address these issues. For decades, we have prioritised the short-term economic benefits of coal mining without considering the long-term consequences resulting in devastating consequences to Australia’s environmental and social security. Recent legal developments in Australia however are reflecting a shift away from these attitudes and towards more holistic approaches that recognise the tangible and far-reaching impacts of environmental harm.
This presentation examines the 2022 recommendation in the Land Court of Queensland, Waratah v. Youth Verdict, as a case study of Australia’s evolving attitudes towards coal mining projects. This case concerned an application for a mining lease and environmental authority for a thermal coal mine in central Queensland. President Kingham recommended refusing the mine’s application on several grounds, including that approving the mine would not only contravene Australia’s international obligations under the Paris Agreement, but its own human rights laws. Notably, this is the first time climate change has been recognised as a human rights issue in Australia.
Waratah v. Youth Verdict underscores the potential for Australian courts to lead in integrating human rights and climate accountability into environmental governance. As we will see, sustainable environmental decision making mitigates climate risks, fosters social stability and ultimately strengthens Australia’s national security — critical components of resilience in an increasingly uncertain world.
Biography
Electra is a second year Bachelor of Laws (Honours) student at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT). She holds a previous degree in Humanities at the University of Queensland (UQ). Electra has a strong interest in national security and its interrelationships with governmental institutions. She is passionate about exploring the ways sustainable environmental decision making can benefit Australian security in many ways, including Australia’s ability to respond to these disasters which in turn fosters trust in government institutions and strengthens relationships with our partners of in binding international treaties. Electra hopes to use her studies in law at QUT to gain critical understanding of the legal landscape in Australia and work with experts to address challenges in security-related issues, and position Australia as a global leader in environmental action.
11. Empowering Youth and Future Generations: Education for Sustainable Development and UN Pact Actions
Amy Jones, QUT
Abstract
This presentation examines the role of higher education in advancing the UN’s Pact for the Future, with a particular focus on the integration of sustainability education within law schools. As the world confronts interconnected challenges such as climate change, inequality, and global health, it is essential that future legal professionals are equipped with the knowledge and skills to drive sustainable development. Drawing on the UN SDG 4, which advocates for inclusive and equitable quality education, this explores how university subjects can better prepare students to address these pressing issues.
The presentation reflects on the intersection between the Pact for the Future, specifically Action 34 and 36, and the transformative power of education in shaping the legal landscape for future generations. It highlights how sustainability-focused curricula provide the foundation for youth empowerment and global citizenship, underscoring the importance of education in advancing the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. By exploring the personal impact of these educational experiences, the presentation demonstrates how legal education can play a pivotal role in equipping future leaders to navigate and resolve the complex challenges of our time.
Biography
Amy is a first-year Bachelor of Laws (Honours) student at Queensland University of Technology (QUT), with a strong interest in advocacy, legal research, and sustainability. Her academic focus has shifted towards education, particularly through the lens of sustainability, following study in the new law subject offered at QUT — Law, Governance, and Sustainability. She is committed to promoting/facilitating inclusive educational opportunities, evidenced by her volunteer work with a charity that provides free English lessons to Latin American migrants, refugees, and international students. This role reflects her passion for promoting accessibility and empowering individuals through education. Amy is dedicated to advocating for the advancement of sustainability education to promote global citizenship and social justice, particularly within youth and future generations.
12. The Declaration on Future Generations: Can it Shift Multilateralism from Presentism to Strategic Foresight?
Fien Van den Steen, the University of the Sunshine Coast
Abstract
The Summit of the Future pledged to make the multilateral system fit for the 21st Century, especially given that it has been challenged by the triple environmental crises and increasing geopolitical tensions. The Declaration on Future Generations could be a key lever to change the paradigm and shift the focus from presentism to strategic foresight based in equity, sustainability and human rights. I analyse if the Declaration could be sufficient to overcome the Gramscian ‘interregnum: where the new cannot be born when the old hasn’t died’. I apply Robert Cox’ ‘International Relations Forces of Change’ lens and wonder out loud which ideational, institutional and material forces of change are implied in the Declaration and how they could shape the multilateralism of the 21st Century.
Biography
After seven years of investigative journalism on international environmental issues, Fien Van den Steen upskilled her career with a Bachelor of Environmental Management at the University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC). Driven to closing the gap between global environmental policy and localised community practice, Fien launched the award-winning UniSC Enactus club for social entrepreneurial students and co-founded the Upskilling Sustainability Initiative to connect collective knowledge and action, while being intensively involved in student representation as university council member and student senate co-chair. Passionate to contribute to the work of the United Nations, she also is member of the United Nations Association Australia, Queensland division and Young Professionals. In this role she contributed to policy submissions at the state and federal government and attended the joint UNAA — AIIA Roundtable in preparation of the Summit of the Future.
13. The Right to a Healthy Environment: A Catalyst for Transformative Action in the UN’s Pact for the Future
Abigail Loxley, QUT
Abstract
In 2022, the United Nations General Assembly recognized the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment as a universal human right, signalling a pivotal step in addressing the escalating environmental crisis. This presentation, delivered as part of The Summit of the Future: A QUT Symposium, will examine the implications of this resolution within the broader context of the UN’s Pact for the Future.
Climate change, pollution, sea level rise, biodiversity loss, land degradation and deforestation pose serious risks to our natural environment and our prospects for development. The Pact for the Future must provide a robust framework to face the current crises and secure a better future for present and future generations. While the pact will place people at the centre of all actions we must deliver for the planet as without a planet there will be no people to protect. There must be a fundamental shift in our approach in order to achieve a world in which humanity lives in harmony with nature.
Action item 10 of the Pact for the Future discusses a right to a healthy environment by promising to ‘accelerate our efforts to restore, protect, conserve and sustainably use the environment’. This includes the promotion of sustainable consumption and production patterns, the conclusion of a legally-binding agreement on plastic pollution, reversing biodiversity loss and protecting ecosystems. In order to address the global environment challenges and achieve the Pact for the Future’s objectives international cooperation on the environment must be strengthened by implementing and complying with multilateral environmental agreements. By implementing a right to a healthy environment, the Pact for the Future can promote environmental protection and justice and uphold its commitment to future generations.
Biography
Abigail Loxley is an undergraduate student at QUT studying a Bachelor of Business (Management)/Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and is expected to graduate mid-2025. She kickstarted her career in the legal realm as a receptionist at Byth Chambers — a chambers which specialises in all aspects of Planning, Environment and Local Government Law. She has since gained a role as a paralegal in the Planning and Environment team at MacDonnells Law.
Abigail has a deep interest in sustainability, access to justice and the rule of the law which is displayed throughout her extracurricular activities. She is a two-time recipient of the New Columbo Plan mobility grant which is funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. This has enabled her to undertake a short-term study exchange in Vietnam which focused on the Business of Circular Economy as well as an International Legal Studies Externship Program in Chiang Mai, Thailand with not-for-profit organisation BABSEACLE. Abigail is also a fundraising volunteer at Women’s Legal Services Queensland and works with a team of like-minded volunteers committed to creating safer futures for women and children across Queensland.
14. The Pact for the Future and International Human Rights: Confronting Crises Through a Vision of Human Rights
David Mejia-Canales, the Human Rights Law Centre
Abstract
The United Nations Pact for the Future presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reaffirm and strengthen the UN’s commitment to human rights. As the world faces existential crises — widespread violations of international humanitarian law, climate change, global inequality, the dual-edged nature of technology, and democratic backsliding — the Pact must provide a robust framework for addressing these challenges. This session will explore how a holistic vision of human rights, encompassing economic, social, and cultural rights, can confront structural impediments to global justice.
Key issues include the need to realign international financial systems with human rights, implement the right to a healthy environment, and phase out fossil fuels through a just transition. The Pact must also safeguard democratic principles by expanding civic space, protecting human rights defenders, and ensuring accountability for abuses. Moreover, it should leverage technology to promote human rights while regulating its misuse.
By integrating these priorities, the Pact can serve as a critical tool for upholding international humanitarian law, combating inequality, and fostering global solidarity. This session will argue that only through bold, actionable commitments can the UN deliver on its Charter and equip future generations to thrive in an equitable and sustainable world.
Biography
David Mejia-Canales is a senior human rights lawyer at the Human Rights Law Centre, focusing on defending democratic freedoms like, the right to protest, the right to vote and the right to participate in public affairs.
Before this, David was a policy adviser in the Commonwealth Parliament working on legal system reform and on justice issues impacting First Nations people including ending deaths in custody, raising the age of criminal responsibility, protecting Country defenders and the implementation of the Optional Protocol Against Torture.
15. The Pact for the Future and Global Public Health
Dr Muhammad Zaheer Abbas, QUT Faculty of Business and Law
Abstract
This paper considers the public health dimensions of the Pact for the Future with a key focus on Action 34(b): ‘Accelerate efforts to achieve universal health coverage to ensure that all young people enjoy the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, including immunizations and vaccinations and sexual and reproductive health, and address all challenges faced by developing countries in achieving these goals’. Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus’ intervention on behalf of the World Health Organization (WHO) called for a Pandemic Agreement. In 2021, in the context of COVID-19, world leaders such as Boris Johnson, Emmanuel Macron, and Angela Merkel called for a Global Pandemic Treaty. The WHO and 23 nations backed this idea. The political momentum for a Pandemic Treaty has diminished over time. The Pact for the Future may provide impetus for a renewed effort to materialise this idea. This paper considers the WHO’s Pandemic Agreement in the context of the Pact for the Future. Moreover, this paper looks at the role of the WHO in boosting health priorities in the Pact for the Future.
Keywords
Pact for the Future, public health, COVID-19, inequality, universal health coverage, pandemic treaty, WHO
Biography
Dr. Muhammad Zaheer Abbas is a Lecturer in the School of Law at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Australia. He focuses his research on intellectual property law and policy, with a special interest in patent law and public health. He has written over 40 articles on topics covering various public interest dimensions of intellectual property laws and policies, with a key focus on pharmaceutical patents and access to medicines and vaccines. His work has appeared in the Journal of Law and the Biosciences, Global Public Health, Journal of World Intellectual Property, Journal of Intellectual Property Law and Practice, and Intellectual Property Journal, among several others. He is a frequent speaker on intellectual property dimensions of public health and has delivered over 45 conference presentations worldwide. Since 2015, he has been an active member of the QUT Australian Centre for Health Law Research (QUT ACHLR), which is a leading research centre focusing on public health law and policy. Since 2023, he has been a Review Editor of Frontiers in Public Health.
16. Transforming the Global Financial Architecture
Associate Professor Steven Hail, the Modern Money Lab, Torrens University
Abstract
The Sustainable Development Goals cannot be achieved without a reconfiguration of financial and broader economic relations between the countries of the Global South and the Global North. Proposals to reform international financial institutions such as the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and other multilateral development banks risk being window-dressing, if the structural causes of foreign-currency debt dependence and a consequent lack of monetary sovereignty across a majority of developing economies are not addressed. This requires a large-scale transfer of financial and technological resources from the Global North to the Global South, in the form of colonial and climate reparations, a move away from neocolonial financial and trade relations, and a change in development strategies. The accumulation of additional debt, albeit on more favorable terms, tied to conditions mandating austerity, privatisation, deregulation and the supply of cheap labour and resources to countries in the Global North, would be a trap.
Biography
Steven Hail is the Academic Director of Modern Money Lab, an Associate Professor at Torrens University Australia, and one of Australia’s leading modern monetary theorists. He has extensive experience training banking and financial service professionals, including staff from the Bank of England. He regularly appears in the media and published the 2018 book Economics for Sustainable Prosperity.
Cover Image — UN Photo/Loey Felipe, ‘Opening of the Summit of the Future’, 22 September 2024, https://media.un.org/photo/en/asset/oun7/oun71064063
