The Urgent Need for Multilateral Action in 2025

As the world approaches 2025, it stands at a critical crossroads. The challenges we face—rising inequalities, the escalating climate crisis, and significant financing gaps for sustainable development—are not just pressing but deeply interconnected. Tackling these issues effectively requires a united, global effort, not isolation or unilateral actions. The year 2025 presents a unique opportunity to revitalize multilateralism, a system that, while strained, remains our best hope for addressing these shared challenges. Multilateralism, when ambitious and action-oriented, offers the most effective path to advancing our common interests and overcoming the obstacles ahead.

The Role of Global Gatherings in Shaping the Future

Three pivotal conferences in 2025 will play a crucial role in determining the course of global progress: the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) in Seville, Spain; the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Belém, Brazil; and the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa. These gatherings are not routine events but pivotal moments that demand bold, coordinated action. They must go beyond the usual diplomatic exchanges and deliver concrete, transformative outcomes. The stakes are too high for anything less, and the world is watching to see if these meetings can rise to the occasion and chart a path toward a more just, inclusive, and sustainable world.

Rebuilding Trust in Multilateral Institutions

Multilateral institutions are facing a crisis of trust, but the need for global cooperation has never been more urgent. The challenges we face are too complex and far-reaching for any single country to address alone. This is why reaffirming faith in multilateralism is essential. The successes of past multilateral efforts, such as the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement, remind us of what can be achieved when nations come together with a shared sense of purpose. In 2025, we must build on these achievements and use them as a foundation for renewed commitment to inclusiveness, sustainable development, and shared prosperity. This requires strong political will, the full participation of all stakeholders, and a willingness to think creatively while understanding the diverse constraints and priorities of different economies.

Bridging Inequality Through Financial Reform

One of the most pressing issues confronting the world today is the widening gap in income inequality, both within and between nations. Many developing countries are burdened by unsustainable debt, limited fiscal space, and barriers to accessing capital fairly. These challenges not only hinder economic growth but also threaten global stability. The need for a more equitable global financial architecture has never been more urgent. In 2025, the G20, under South African leadership, is prioritizing debt relief, innovative financing mechanisms, and addressing the high cost of capital faced by developing countries. The FfD4 in Seville will also be a critical moment to secure commitments for stronger international financial cooperation, including better taxation of global wealth, enhanced domestic resource mobilization, and more effective use of Special Drawing Rights. These efforts are not just about fairness; they are essential for creating a more stable and prosperous world.

Ensuring Just Climate Transitions

For many developing countries, the transition to a climate-resilient future remains an elusive goal due to insufficient funds and development constraints. COP30 in Belém presents a historic opportunity to change this narrative. Hosted in the heart of the Amazon, this conference must ensure that climate finance commitments are turned into tangible actions. Success will depend on bridging the gap between promises and delivery, with key milestones including the submission of ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and the Baku to Belém Roadmap to scale up climate financing to at least $1.3 trillion annually by 2025. Increasing adaptation finance, leveraging private sector investment, and enhancing the role of multilateral development banks in climate financing will be crucial. The FfD4 in Seville will complement these efforts by ensuring that climate action does not come at the expense of development, reinforcing the inseparability of financial stability and climate action.

Fostering Inclusive Global Cooperation

In a world that is increasingly fragmented, the need for unity and common purpose is more compelling than ever. The meetings in Seville, Belém, and Johannesburg must serve as beacons of multilateral cooperation, demonstrating that nations can come together around shared interests. In Seville, the focus will be on mobilizing public and private capital for sustainable development. In Belém, the emphasis will be on protecting the planet through collective climate action. And in Johannesburg, the G20 will reaffirm the importance of inclusive economic growth. As we look ahead to 2025, we call on all nations, international institutions, the private sector, and civil society to rise to this moment. The stakes are too high for failure, and the world is counting on us to deliver. Multilateralism can and must work, not just as a system, but as a force for real, lasting change.