PGA Remarks at the  Pact for the Future Informal Interactive Dialogue 3 – Looking ahead to 2028

Opening Remarks by the President of the General Assembly

Mr. Philemon Yang,

Pact for the Future Informal Interactive Dialogue 3 – Looking ahead to 2028

10 a.m., 17 July 2025, Trusteeship Council Chamber, United Nations Headquarters
[As Delivered]

 

Excellencies,

Distinguished Delegates,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

I welcome all Member States and stakeholders to this third informal interactive dialogue on the implementation of the Pact for the Future.

 

Today’s dialogue focuses on the 2028 Review of the Pact.

 

This is an opportunity to:

 

• Consider the structure of the review itself;

 

• Align our planning with implementation timelines;

 

• Identify early course corrections;

 

• And, ensure coherence with other global review processes.

Excellencies,

As you may recall, the second interactive dialogue, held on 19 May, underscored broad support for monitoring and evaluation as essential tools for accountability, tracking progress, and reinforcing our shared commitments.

 

Discussions reaffirmed that implementation must be guided by national priorities and contexts.

 

At the same time, challenges that are common across Member States must be addressed.

 

These include limited resources, capacity gaps, and fragmented reporting frameworks that continue to constrain action.

 

Many delegates highlighted the importance of building on existing Sustainable Development Goals’ mechanisms, and to enhance support for better data infrastructure.

Excellencies,

 

Paragraph 17 of the Pact for the Future calls for an overall review of implementation by 2028 to assess collective progress and identify gaps in realising its vision.

 

The Pact states clearly that implementation should proceed through existing intergovernmental processes.

 

Therefore, the 2028 review must be shaped by and linked to key milestones such as:

• The 2027 High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development;

 

• The review of the Global Digital Compact;

 

• And the High-level meeting on Future Generations.

 

This integrated approach promotes coherence, prevents duplication, and strengthens Member State ownership.

 

To ensure that the 2028 review delivers actionable outcomes, early planning, aligned timelines, and clearly defined institutional responsibilities are essential.

 

Regional reporting and advocacy should be encouraged to support national efforts and strengthen the foundation for the global review.

 

Political leadership must embed the Pact within national development agendas.

 

Indeed, encourage Member States should be encouraged to organise national workshops to raise awareness about the Pact and foster broader engagement with its vision.

 

It should not be treated as a separate track but as a framework that reinforces and expands the Sustainable Development Goals.

 

Institutional readiness within the United Nations system and among national administrations will also be critical.

 

If approached effectively, the 2028 review will be a unifying moment that consolidates commitments and accelerates delivery – especially as we approach the 2030 deadline.

 

Excellencies,

 

Going forward, we must consider not only the substance of the 2028 review but also its format.

 

The Pact and its annexes contain distinct provisions, timelines, and review mechanisms.

 

The format of the review must be designed carefully to ensure consistency across all these tracks and to deliver a clear, coordinated picture of progress.

 

It should measure results while bringing together multiple implementation streams into a coherent process.

 

Without a clear structure, even the strongest data and reporting systems may fail to provide an understanding of where we stand.

 

The review must assess what has been achieved, while generating momentum for the next phase of implementation.

 

Envisaging the road ahead is important.

 

And in doing so, Member State perspectives on its format and approach will be critical to getting this right.

 

To help guide our discussions, I offer three questions:

 

• First, what should be the structure and scope of the 2028 review to ensure it delivers real impact?

 

• Second, how can the review align with existing intergovernmental processes to maximise efficiency and avoid duplication?

 

• Third, how can we strengthen coordination and collaboration so that the review leads to clear outcomes and reinforces the Pact as a single, unified framework?

 

Excellencies,

The 2028 global review must not become a procedural exercise.

 

It must provide a clear-eyed assessment of progress, expose the gaps, and offer concrete recommendations that shape international cooperation towards 2030 and beyond.

 

The groundwork we lay now will determine whether the Pact fulfils promises or represents a moment of missed opportunity.

 

Let us ensure it delivers lasting impact.

 

Thank you.