The 2030 Agenda set by the UN is falling short of the results it committed to. Out of the 139 SDGs targets with trend data, only 36% are on track or making moderate progress. The UN itself has warned of an “imminent financial collapse” due to unpaid contributions from member states. Meanwhile, the latest Emerging Middle Powers Survey (2026) suggests that many are turning to regional organizations rather than the UN, which is increasingly perceived as less relevant in addressing today’s global and regional challenges.

Calls for reform of UN institutions have echoed across the globe for decades. Yet the pathways to realizing those reforms have not been clear. At the same time, the world keeps evolving; crises loom, wars are waged, and new disruptions emerge.

What kind of UN do we need now? Where has the UN delivered, and where has it fallen short? What realistic reforms could restore its credibility? This session will entertain ideas, aspirations, and critiques, from the Security Council's veto power and emerging peace initiatives such as the Board of Peace to the kind of leadership needed from the next Secretary-General.