Room for Optimism: A Precondition for Success in Challenging Times
As part of the Summit of the Future Action Days, the Room for Optimism side event took place at UN Headquarters in New York, bringing together Member State representatives, UN officials, and civil society actors. Organized by the Baha’i International Community and a coalition of partners, including the UN Futures Lab/Global Hub, the session explored how optimism can be used as a strategic tool to drive action, sustain momentum, and ensure the success of the Pact for the Future. Participants:
- Reflected on key elements of the Summit of the Future that inspire hope and provide a foundation for meaningful change.
- Explored how optimism can be leveraged as a tool to mobilize commitment and energy in addressing complex global challenges.
- Identified immediate steps post-Summit to ensure that negotiated outcomes translate into tangible progress.
- Discussed how international actors can shape a collective narrative that balances realism with justified optimism.
Why it matters
Amid growing global uncertainties, fostering strategic optimism is critical to reinforcing international cooperation and advancing multilateral goals. This session emphasized the need for proactive storytelling, a shift from critique to solution-driven narratives, and the importance of embedding hope as a driver of action in both institutional and grassroots efforts. By identifying practical steps to sustain momentum beyond the Summit of the Future, participants contributed to a forward-looking and resilient vision for global governance.