What’s next: GF23 Global Futures Conference

Our world requires humans to act, urgently, so that we may repair and relieve the stresses we as a global society have placed upon it. Groups from around the world have been working to realign our planet’s residents with our planetary systems, but not all have gained the traction needed to be successful.

In September 2022, the inaugural Global Futures Conference (GF22) convened more than 200 committed global stakeholders to establish the 10 Must Haves Initiative, a comprehensive set of “Must Have” areas, and align a set of “Must Do” actions that can lead the change necessary to provide an equitable and just future for all. To take the next step, our world needs an engaged and committed alliance of global citizens who have authority and access to implement these Must Haves and Must Dos. This is the purpose of the GF23 Global Futures Conference.

“Last year’s conference was an opportunity to take a hard look at our potential futures,” said Peter Schlosser, vice president and vice provost of the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory. “We are failing to meet the goals humanity has set for itself to repair our relationship with Earth’s life-supporting systems. We cannot go back in time. We must plan for a future based on our current outcomes. This conference builds upon last year’s work to finalize and implement our actionable — and attainable — path towards a future where all may thrive.”

This year’s conference will once again take place in New York City from Sept. 19-21, coinciding with the United Nations General Assembly meetings, New York Climate Week and other key international convenings that allow this conference to work with people who are invested in planetary health at many scales and in diverse ways. The people represent the public and private sectors, science and academia, Indigenous communities and youth from around the globe. Their charge will be to actualize the bold steps needed for governments, corporations and multilateral institutions to push the boundaries of discourse on how we can, and must, act to save our planet.

The combined 10 Must Haves provide a global contingency plan that spans disciplines, sectors and geographies to halt the path toward irreversible and destructive changes to planetary systems and promote the transformations that are urgently needed. Through a series of working sessions, experts will identify pathways for actions that support these conditions by leveraging coordinated political will, private sector innovation and the demands of an informed civil society.

The conference is convened by the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory, The Earth League and Planet, in addition to being a part of The Nest Climate Campus, the official event partner of Climate Week NYC. The GF23 steering committee includes leading minds in climate science, innovation and policy.

It is through meaningful change and innovation that humanity can make global transformations. Those who engage with the working sessions, conversations and speakers at GF23 will guide these much-needed transformations: a coalition working for a future of opportunity rather than sacrifice.

Top 10 Must Haves

To attain a just, sustainable future, we must have:

1. A limit of global warming as close to 1.5 C as possible by 2050.

2. An immediate halt and reversal of the loss of nature’s functions and diversity.

3. Economies that operate within safe and just planetary boundaries.

4. Equitable access to resources needed for human well-being.

5. Governance transformations to stay within planetary boundaries.

6. Healthy, safe and secure food for the global population.

7. Reconnection of human wellbeing to planetary health.

9. Stability and peace in a global society.

10. A resilient global society ready to respond to planetary crises.

10. A resilient global society ready to respond to planetary crises.