United Nations Day, October 24, 2025
Organizations and individuals who met in Hague on September 27 for a conference and workshop on eco-peace, future generations and planetary service, have used the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the United Nations to call on ‘we the peoples of the United Nations’ (civil society, governments, legislators, cities, international bodies, and the private sector) to undertake 15 urgent actions to secure peace with our natural environment, protect current and future generations, advance justice, and shape a positive future.
“The rights and wellbeing of current and future generations are threatened by a poly-crisis consisting of climate change, armed conflict, escalating risk of nuclear war, economic disparity, competition over depleting natural resources, exploitation of our natural environment, ecosystem collapse, authoritarianism, manifest violations of international law, political disinformation and corruption,” said Neshan Gunasekera, CEO of the World Future Council and a co-organiser of the conference.
Mr. Gunasekera emphasized, “Better governance, including through the United Nations, is essential to build the global cooperation, sustained action and accountability required to address this poly crisis and to shift our planet back from the ecological planetary boundaries which are close to transgression. We propose several governance mechanisms in the Hague Appeal that could make a real difference, including through the strengthening of our international courts to better address peace and environmental issues, and through establishment of institutional representatives of future generations at local, national, regional, and global levels, including a UN Envoy for Future Generations.”
“Sustainability, peace and the rights and wellbeing of current and future generations are best served by a transition from economies that are fossil-fuel, extractive and GDP growth-based, to green and well-being economies, and ‘commons-inclusive economies” noted Dr. Hans van Willenswaard, Core Team Member of the Earth Trusteeship Initiative and member of Mobilizing an Earth Governance Alliance.
“We can learn from local, national and indigenous legal systems which already embody principles of trusteeship to build better management of the global commons and the planet,” Dr. van Willenswaard advised. “One practical measure is to create additional marine and terrestrial reserves based on the principles of Earth Trusteeship, in order to cover at least 30% of the world’s land and seas with such protected common areas by 2030.”
“Good agroecology methods and nature-led engineering to enhance sustainable food supply and security, while also regenerating landscapes and restoring ecosystems, common spaces and biodiversity, can serve as foundations for enviro-healthy economies,” reflected geomorphologist Michiel Damen. “Current examples such as the SEKEM farm in Egypt, the global large scale landscape restoration workof Common Land and the nature-led engineering projects of The Weathermakersdemonstrate that this approach is economically and socially beneficial as well as ecologically vital.”
“The United Nations, international rule of law. and international judicial institutions provide a solid basis for building the global cooperation, governance and accountability required to protect current and future generations, if better supported and strengthened during this time of critical challenges,” said Alyn Ware, Program Director for the World Federalist Movement-Institute for Global Policy.
“The Hague Appeal therefore calls for all countries to accept the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice and ratify the Rome Statute for the International Criminal Court,” says Mr. Ware. “It also calls for the crimes of ecocide and slavery to be added to ICC jurisdiction, ensuring full ICC jurisdiction for the crime of aggression, and establishing an International Anti-Corruption Court to confront crimes of corruption not adequately addressed in national legal systems.”
“Climate change and nuclear weapons pose the most serious existential threats to humanity and the planet,” continued Mr. Ware. “The International Court of Justice Advisory Opinions on these two issues should serve as a guide to policy action by governments to protect the climate, prevent nuclear war and foster nuclear disarmament. On the nuclear weapons issue, the Hague Appeal calls on nuclear armed states to commit to never initiating a nuclear war (through adoption of no-first-use policies) and to achieve the global elimination of nuclear weapons no later than the 100th anniversary of the UN.”
Ms. Rebecca Shoot, Co-Convener of the ImPact Coalition for Strengthening International Judicial Institutions,concurred: “Emanating from the City of Peace and Justice, this appeal carries special resonance—eighty years after humanity first pledged ‘never again’ to the scourge of war. In an age when impunity runs unchecked, we are called once more to renew that promise and unite for a world ruled by law, not by war.”
“Six out of nine planetary boundaries have been breached,” cautioned Siddharth Jain, Organisation & Strategy Lead for Planetary Service. “Now is the time to unite, rising above differences, as people of the planet, to defend, sustain, and regenerate the Earth. Planetary Service must become a commonly respected and accessible principle in every society. This is why we call for a Decade of Planetary Service: Peacebuilding, Peacekeeping and Peace Education to advance planetary service, including engagement of youth in peacebuilding and EcoPeace.”
According to Hans van Willenswaard, the calls in the Hague Appeal, when implemented, will collectively create EcoPeace: “Where-as current economies and politics increasingly lead us into war, civil society-driven care for Mother Earth and the community of life opens a realistic pathway to Peace.”
ENDS
Read the full Hague Appeal for Future Generations: Action now to secure Peace and protect the Future including the 15 urgent actions.
Photo: Participants at the Hague Conference for Future Generations and Co-creating EcoPeace.