News & Insight | The Elders

Climate change: women must be heard at COP26

The growing climate crisis affects more women than men, and its solutions must reflect the fact that it is a feminist issue, writes Mary Robinson.

The climate crisis and COVID-19 defined this year’s UN General Assembly

Zeid Raad Al Hussein

Zeid Raad Al Hussein reiterates the need for global solutions to global problems, and the pivotal role of the multilateral system in addressing our shared challenges such as the climate crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic.

"In the end, what we need is justice": Born into the climate crisis

Championed by Ban Ki-moon, Mitzi Jonelle Tan from the Philippines writes about the frightening and devastating impacts of climate change and calls for an urgent end to the burning of fossil fuels.

The leadership of the G20 is crucial in securing a safer future

Ban Ki-moon addresses leaders at the F20 Climate Solutions Forum, emphasising the need for G20 leaders to step up their climate commitments ahead of climate COP26 in Glasgow.

“When the ocean suffers, we all suffer”: Tackling the crises of plastics and climate change

Eighteen-year-old climate activist Hannah Testa from the US writes about the links between ocean pollution and climate change and calls forcefully for urgent action taking a holistic view on the climate crisis.

The international community must act responsibly on Afghanistan

Lakhdar Brahimi

Lakhdar Brahimi addresses the UN Security Council on the precarious situation in Afghanistan and calls for unity within the international community to support the Afghan people.

A united and purposeful Security Council is needed now more than ever

7 September 2021

Mary Robinson addresses the UN Security Council on its crucial role in preventing conflict, the need for nuclear non-proliferation, and the overhanging threat of climate change.

Conflict countries and regions Ethical leadership & multilateral cooperation

A new ‘Bretton Woods’ moment is key to building back better after COVID-19

Warning that COVID-19 has taken advantage of a world in disorder, Gro Harlem Brundtland calls for revival of multilateral cooperation to effectively tackle the key global challenges we face.

True solidarity with young people means ending the fossil fuel era

Imploring the world to "listen to the incontrovertible science", Mary Robinson calls for urgent climate action to build a sustainable, just and inclusive future. in a message of support at the 10th Annual Desmond Tutu International Peace Lecture.

The need for principled global leadership and cooperation has never been more important

As COVID-19 continues to hit our societies at great cost, the need for far-sighted, innovative and principled global leadership and cooperation has never been more important.

Securing our common future in the era of COVID-19: multilateral action is key

From the achievements of sustainable development and empowering women to the need for pandemic preparedness and investing in universal health coverage, Gro Harlem Brundtland discusses the power of multilateralism, in this interview with The ASEAN magazine

The Elders mourn the passing of Kuwait's Emir

The Elders' statement on the passing of Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah

We cannot postpone climate action: major global announcements made on safeguarding the future

On 28 September, The Leaders’ Pledge for Nature launched virtually in New York: a commitment made by 64 world leaders to putting the climate crisis and preservation of nature at the heart of post-pandemic economic recovery plans.

The COVID-19 pandemic presents the UN with its biggest challenge yet

Ban Ki-moon warns that if we fail to respond to COVID-19 and other shared threats with a renewed sense of solidarity and collective action, we will have dishonoured the victims of the virus and betrayed the hopes that the UN’s founding generation had.

We must tackle carbon inequality to meet our Paris Agreement commitments

Ban Ki-moon warns that the global carbon budget is being rapidly depleted for the purpose of expanding the consumption of a tiny minority of people.

Every country must raise its political ambition to move towards zero pollution and full climate justice

Mary Robinson highlights that pollution is much more than carbon emissions and praises moves to develop a viable and sustainable post-pandemic recovery.

A Time for Renewal: Calling for a Strengthened Multilateral System

Mary Robinson, Ban Ki-moon, Hina Jilani, Ricardo Lagos, Graça Machel and Juan Manuel Santos join global leaders to call for decisive action to defend and rejuvenate multilateralism, in an open letter to Heads of Governments.

The impacts of crises are never gender-neutral and COVID-19 is no exception

Mary Robinson calls for women’s leadership at all levels to be at the core of the COVID-19 response if a roll back on women’s rights is to be prevented. Published in IPS News.

We must end fossil fuel use alongside a revolution in nature-based solutions to truly build back a safer and fairer world

Juan Manuel Santos warns that nature-based solutions and the protection of biodiversity are not a substitute for accelerating the phase-out of fossil fuels.

Elders join UN75 Global Governance Forum

On 16 and 17 September, Mary Robinson, Ban Ki-moon, Gro Harlem Brundtland, Hina Jilani and Juan Manuel Santos will join the UN75 Global Governance Forum.

Juan Manuel Santos: We do not have to choose between a healthy economy and a healthy planet

Juan Manuel Santos calls on G20 leaders to show real leadership in fostering a green recovery from COVID-19, in an address to a virtual session of the F20 High-Level Forum.

COVID-19: a call for urgent action to prepare for the next pandemic

In a foreword for the Global Preparedness Monitoring Board's report "A World in Disorder", co-chairs Gro Harlem Brundtland and Elhadj As Sy lament the world's collective failure to take seriously pandemic prevention and call for urgent action

The only way to emerge from this pandemic stronger is through dialogue, transparency and accountability

Hina Jilani calls for transparency, accountability and international dialogue in order to emerge stronger from the COVID-19 pandemic

The Elders and The Carter Center: A Virtual Dialogue with Israeli activists

On 5 August, The Carter Center and The Elders virtually convened a round of dialogue with Israeli civil society and human rights activists. Lakhdar Brahimi participated on behalf of The Elders.

Pandemics and the challenges of sustaining peace

Ban Ki-moon addresses a virtual session of the UN Security Council on the challenges of sustaining peace during COVID-19.

Black Lives Matter puts injustice and inequality in the spotlight

Ban Ki-moon and Patrick Verkooijen warn that the speed and scale with which wealthy New Yorkers fled the city as COVID-19 struck has served a small taste of what climate apartheid could look like in the decades to come. Published in USA Today.

COVID-19's threat to our global civilisation and the need for collective responsibility

Writing for Kyodo News, Gro Harlem Brundtland calls for collective action to address multiple crises affecting global civilisation, from COVID-19 and climate change to nuclear proliferation and assaults on the multilateral system.

#PeaceCrane2020: Imagining a world free from nuclear weapons

The Elders mark the 75th Anniversary of the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki by folding an origami crane and sharing a message of peace.

The Elders call on world leaders to take action or risk nuclear catastrophe

The Elders call on the leaders of the five recognised nuclear-weapon states to use the 75th anniversary of the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki to begin substantive steps towards the total elimination of nuclear weapons.

The nuclear threat is greater than at any point since the Cold War

The Elders’ Policy Advisor, Tom Brookes, blogs on the current state of nuclear tensions and the options for achieving disarmament.

To honour the victims of Hiroshima and Nagasaki 75 years on, we must lay down our nuclear weapons

On the 75th anniversary of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Ban Ki-moon warns of the unravelling of nuclear arms controls and urges Presidents Trump and Putin to extend New START. Published in TIME.

Juan Manuel Santos reflects on the present and existential threat of nuclear weapons

August marks a point of sombre reflection for the world as we pause to remember the hundreds of thousands of people who died following the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.

Canada can lead on climate change, if leaders match words with deeds

Warning that Canada's international reputation as a leader on ambitious climate action is at risk, Mary Robinson calls on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to match rhetoric around the need for a green economy with action. Published in The Globe and Mail.

The Elders to mark Hiroshima and Nagasaki anniversary with peace crane commemoration

The Elders are calling on world leaders, decision-makers and the public to pause for a moment of reflection and solidarity as the world marks the 75th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on 6th and 9th August 2020.

Fold your own origami crane: how to take part in #PeaceCrane2020

Sadako Sasaki inspired the world with her origami peace cranes. She folded thousands from her hospital bed before she tragically died from the long-term effects of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima.

Masahiro Sasaki: on surviving the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, his sister Sadako and his mission to advance peace

Masahiro Sasaki, the only surviving brother of Sadako Sasaki - whose actions sparked a peace movement, blogs on surviving the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.

Each of us can bring something valuable to the quest for peace

Sue DiCicco, founder of The Peace Crane Project, explains the importance of Sadako and Masahiro Sasaki to the story of the origami peace crane, and the message of hope it represents today.

The Story of Sadako Sasaki and the Hiroshima Peace Cranes

The origami peace crane has long been associated with Sadako Sasaki, a young girl who died from leukaemia caused by the radioactive fallout of the Hiroshima bombing. Read her story to find out how she began folding cranes and why.

Elders address UK Foreign Affairs Committee on the need for global leadership

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Juan Manuel Santos and Zeid Raad Al Hussein draw on their experiences in office and reflect on challenges facing leaders as they grapple with COVID-19.

New COVID-19 justice fund targets $1 million for grassroots groups

On the heels of Mandela Day, global leaders and civil society groups are proud to launch the COVID-19 Grassroots Justice Fund to help marginalised and oppressed communities protect their rights during the pandemic and ensure equitable recovery.

In Colombia, it took courage to make peace. I worry Israel is choosing conflict instead

Warning that Israel's threat of annexation risks creating an apartheid-style regime, Juan Manuel Santos draws on his experience of making peace in Colombia, underscoring the importance of the rule of law and respect for universal human rights.

Finding Humanity Webinar: what it means to build back better in a post-COVID-19 world

Mary Robinson & Juan Manuel Santos in discussion with Finding Humanity Podcast host Hazami Barmada on what it means to ‘build back better’ in a post COVID-19 world.

German leadership is critical to building a clean, green recovery to COVID-19

Welcoming the priority German Chancellor Angela Merkel has placed on tackling climate change during Germany's EUCO Presidency, Ban Ki-moon urges German leadership to deliver ambitious solutions that can protect our climate & planet. Published in Die Zeit.

Gro Harlem Brundtland joins UHC Movement Political Advisory Panel

Gro Harlem Brundtland has joined leaders on a new panel to strengthen political support for Universal Health Coverage.

COVID-19 has underscored the importance of resilient health systems

Cautioning against imbalanced health spending as the world recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, Gro Harlem Brundtland calls on leaders to accelerate progress on achieving Universal Health Coverage.

A century ago, too few leaders had the courage to tackle global threats collectively. Will today's leaders step up?

Warning about the terrible consequences of the failures of multilateralism and far-sighted leadership, Ban Ki-moon urges inclusive governance and collective action to solve global challenges.

The Elders and The Carter Center: A Virtual Dialogue with Palestinian activists

On June 17 and 18, The Carter Center and The Elders virtually convened two rounds of dialogue with Palestinian civil society and political and human rights activists.

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