‘We have a responsibility:’ Trudeau urges global leaders to support pact for future

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says that at a time when the world faces increasing instability, leaders have a choice: bury their heads in the sand or put their differences aside for the sake of future generations.

“We can recognize that, collectively, we have a responsibility to set our differences aside, to confront the serious global challenges, and to deliver on a pact for the future,” Trudeau said at the Summit of the Future in New York on Sunday.

The Summit of the Future, announced by UN Secretary-General António Guterres in 2021, continues through Monday ahead of the 78th meeting of the United Nations General Assembly.

Its goal is to reform the UN, reinvigorate multilateralism and agree on solutions to new challenges at a time when the global institution has faced criticism for its handling of issues including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the war in Gaza.

Guterres urged member nations last week to compromise and approve the “Pact of the Future,” a blueprint to address a wide range of global challenges. But there’s been pushback from Russia, Saudi Arabia and other countries who object to some of the language on issues including climate change and reforming international financial institutions.

Trudeau urged leaders to deliver on the plan so that every generation “has a real and fair shot.”

Trudeau was scheduled to meet Sunday with Guterres, as well as Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Kathy Hochul, New York State’s Democratic governor.

“While diplomacy is hard and diplomacy about diplomacy is even harder, we can do hard things,” Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the UN, said Wednesday.

“We can think beyond what has been, push ourselves to create a system that meets this moment and the