With efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals focused on the target date of 2015, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announces the appointment of Graça Machel and 25 other civil society, private sector and government leaders as members of a new high-level panel tasked with outlining a vision of the post-2015 global development agenda.

During their visit to London last week Desmond Tutu and Mary Robinson were interviewed by CNN's Becky Anderson about their upcoming trip to Sudan & South Sudan, the current situation there, and what they hoped to achieve. 

“What can The Elders do that other groups and organisations, like the UN, can't do?”

As The Elders celebrate five years since Nelson Mandela founded the organisation, Desmond Tutu and Mary Robinson join Robin Lustig on BBC Radio 4’s The World Tonight to explain how the group was brought together, how they work – and what makes The Elders different.

“It is time for all who have influence on the parties, and all who bear responsibility for international peace and security, to act positively for peace.”

Writing in the Washington Post, Kofi Annan calls on the international community to support Syrians in forging their own political future by following through with the action plan and uniting to prevent further militarisation of the conflict.

"If government representatives had heard the heartfelt yearning for change, perhaps they would have given their negotiators a stronger mandate: a mandate to create the future we want and which the earth needs."

Writing for CNN, Mary Robinson echoes the frustration felt by those who had higher expectations for Rio+20 and urges people everywhere to mobilise to ensure an equitable, prosperous and sustainable future for the world.

“At a time when popular revolutions are sweeping the globe, the United States should be strengthening, not weakening, basic rules of law and principles of justice enumerated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.”

Jimmy Carter writes in the New York Times that the serious human rights violations committed by the United States are undermining his nation's moral authority in international affairs.

"Like no other generation before, we can choose the type of future that we will leave to the next generation. A transition to a safe and prosperous future is possible, but will require the full use of humanity’s extraordinary capacity for innovation and creativity... Tinkering at the edges will not do the job."

Gro Harlem Brundtland writes in the International Herald Tribune as world leaders gather for the Rio+20 summit on sustainable development.

As world leaders gather in Brazil for Rio+20, the Elders and Youngers answer your questions on sustainable development, the world we want and how we can achieve it.

Watch the Q&A videos of Fernando Henrique Cardoso, Mary Robinson and Gro Harlem Brundtland with the Youngers.

“We have the largest generation of young persons in the history of mankind; things are changing.”

Esther Agbarakwe, a young activist participating in the Elders+Youngers debate speaks about her experience getting involved in the initiative in this interview with Network Africa, BBC World Service.

“I share the frustration of millions, outraged at the indifference world leaders are demonstrating towards some of the toughest and most urgent challenges we face today.”

Writing in the Huffington Post, Desmond Tutu voices his exasperation with our current leaders and looks to the next generation for the bold action needed to safeguard the future of our planet.