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Fostering an organizational culture that is future-oriented and mainstreamed across the United Nations system in order to facilitate science- and evidence-based decision-making by developing diverse capabilities, including anticipatory planning, foresight and futures literacy, and systematically promoting long-term and intergenerational thinking at all levels.

UN entity lead: Executive Office of the Secretary-General

Milestone 1 | Deadline 30 June 2026

A system-wide network of Future Generations focal points is established, and operational guidance is developed to foster an organizational culture that is future-oriented and mainstreamed across the UN system.

Safeguarding the needs and interests of future generations has long been part of international discussions – but for the first time, it is formally enshrined in an agreed UN Declaration. This action fosters a future-oriented culture across the UN system, building skills like foresight and futures literacy to support long-term, science-based decisions. It ensures that all UN work, from policy to programming, considers both immediate needs and long-term consequences, ensuring that protecting future generations is a mindset embedded in everything the UN does.

The first meeting of the Future Generations Network is planned for the first quarter of 2026. Once established, the network will lead the promotion, dissemination and implementation of operational guidance, currently under development, for the implementation of the Declaration by the UN system.