News & Insight | The Elders

The Elders explore hope, leadership and the COVID-19 recovery in a new series of the Finding Humanity podcast

22 January 2021

As the new US President Joe Biden calls for unity in tackling the cascading crises of our era, The Elders embark on a new podcast series looking at the leadership needed to meet the challenges ahead.

The Elders welcome US re-engagement on climate, WHO; call for renewed commitment on nuclear threat

21 January 2021

The Elders today welcomed the decisions by newly-inaugurated US President Joe Biden to rejoin the Paris Agreement on climate change and cease the process of withdrawal from the World Health Organization.

A global fossil fuel registry is key to governments taking urgent climate action

Ricardo Lagos calls for greater transparency and accountability from governments to deliver a coordinated, international approach to reducing fossil fuel production. Published in El Pais.

The Elders warn Yemen famine will be worsened by US designation of Houthis as terrorists

The Elders today expressed concern that the severe famine and humanitarian crisis in Yemen will be worsened by the US Government’s designation of one of the parties in the conflict as terrorists.

No time to spare for the Paris climate promise

Five years on from the signing of the Paris Agreement on climate change, Mary Robinson warns that having squandered past opportunities and shirked previous commitments, states now must start making up for lost time.

Lakhdar Brahimi: “A return to the world order before Donald Trump is neither possible nor desirable”

While the crisis of multilateralism has been accelerated by the Trump administration, it has its roots in the attitude of the United States, which has imposed its supremacy since the fall of the Berlin Wall, flouting international law.

2021 must be a year of enlightened and empathetic action

Mary Robinson calls for solidarity, inclusion and generosity of spirit, as we seek to overcome our common challenges in 2021.

Ethical leadership & multilateral cooperation

Justice must be an essential part of the COVID-19 response and recovery

The recently published Taskforce for Justice report Justice for All and the Public Health Emergency sounds the alarm over the human rights crisis posed by the coronavirus pandemic

Not losing hope: Climate action and lessons to learn in India

Ridhima Pandey, a 12-year-old climate activist from India explains the motivations behind her environmental activism and why she seeks to raise awareness about caring for the planet.

Too young to understand climate action? Actually, young people are leading the way

Theo Cullen-Mouze, a young climate activist from Ireland, argues that the COVID-19 response shows the capacity of the world to collaborate, mobilise vast resources and take radical action in times of crisis. He calls for intersectional climate justice.

The world and the Latin American and Caribbean region cannot afford delayed or inadequate responses to COVID-19

Ernesto Zedillo, Juan Manuel Santos, Ricardo Lagos and Elder Emeritus, Fernando Henrique Cardoso, outline the steps and policies the Latin American and Caribbean region must take to mitigate the worst of COVID-19.

We need a global solution for a global pandemic

Ricardo Lagos illustrates why Gordon Brown’s initiative—which sees a number of public figures and leaders from around the world being invited to tackle the crisis unleashed by coronavirus—is worth highlighting.

It will take all of us: never too young to lead on the climate crisis

On Earth Day 2020, Mary Robinson launched this series of intergenerational blogs. In her special Earth Day message, Mary Robinson outlined the need for us to respond to the global challenges we face in solidarity.

Migrants' rights and health must be protected in the face of COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic is a test of our common humanity. It has revealed our shared vulnerabilities, and only a coordinated response based on justice, solidarity and humanitarian principles can help us overcome it.

The COVID-19 pandemic is widening the justice gap

Justice systems are vital to responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and mitigating its worst effects. A new briefing by the Taskforce on Justice, co-chaired by Hina Jilani calls for urgent action to ensure justice for all. Read her foreword:

COVID-19: a joint call to the G20 for coordination on health and the economy

The Elders have joined global leaders to call on the G20 to undertake immediate and coordinated health and economic measures in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 shines a light on our common humanity and shared vulnerabilities

Only by asserting the common bonds of our humanity can we overcome this pandemic

Skoll Foundation presents 2020 Global Treasure Award to The Elders

Today, The Skoll Foundation honoured The Elders with its Global Treasure Award.

The Elders promote the WHO Safe Hands Challenge

This week three of the Elders took part in the World Health Organization's online challenge to raise awareness of good hand-washing practice during this COVID-19 pandemic

The Elders call for global resolve and solidarity in the fight against COVID-19

The Elders call for global resolve and solidarity in the fight against COVID-19

International Women's Day 2020

To mark International Women's Day this year, The Elders have shared photos of themselves with women who inspire them, to highlight the importance of women's engagement, leadership and action in seeking a more peaceful and just world.

To solve global challenges, leaders must work together in the national interest

At a time when multilateralism is under attack, Ban Ki-moon reflects on the importance of working together to overcome global challenges.

Universal Health Coverage: an urgent call for increased public financing

Young health leaders joined Gro Harlem Brundtland in a dialogue on achieving Universal Health Coverage. This thought-piece was co-authored by six participants to the discussion, following One Young World’s 2019 Summit in London, UK.

Marking Nelson Mandela's release: 30 years on

30 years on from Nelson Mandela's release from prison, we recall The Elders' memories of their founder.

Accelerate Universal Health Coverage to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals

Global health risks like coronavirus underscore the critical importance of resilient health systems in protecting everyone, Ban Ki-moon tells leaders and health experts at PMAC 2020 in Bangkok, Thailand.

The Elders warn new US ‘peace’ plan for Middle East is unworkable

The Elders warned today that the new US proposals announced by President Trump cannot provide a workable solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Climate leadership: it always seems impossible until it’s done

Mary Robinson outlines the concept of climate justice and calls for urgent, multilateral climate leadership to protect current and future generations.

It is 100 seconds to midnight: the world needs to recognise and respond to this wake up call

The Doomsday Clock shows we are closer to global catastrophe than ever before - this needs to be a wake-up call for the world.

To overcome existential threats, we need to re-energise multilateralism

Unveiling the 2020 Doomsday Clock in Washington D.C., Ban Ki-moon urges global leaders to re-energise multilateralism to overcome existential threats facing humanity.

We are faced by a gathering storm of extinction-level consequences, and time is running out

Unveiling the 2020 Doomsday Clock in Washington D.C., Mary Robinson calls for an urgent change of mindset to challenge the existential threats facing humanity.

Doomsday Clock 2020: it is 100 seconds to midnight

Mary Robinson and Ban Ki-moon join experts from the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists for the unveiling of the Doomsday Clock

We need new voices in the nuclear disarmament debate

Britt Vegting, a medical student from The Netherlands and advocate for meaningful youth participation in discussions on abolishment of nuclear weapons, writes about her experience as activist raising awareness about the threat of nuclear weapons.

Nuclear weapons are Issue Zero

Cecili Thompson Williams, executive director of Beyond the Bomb, highlights the importance of youth activism and leadership to ensure a nuclear weapons-free future

The Doomsday clock is ticking.

The Elders will be unveiling the Doomsday Clock on 23 January 2020

2020 must be a year of multilateral action on nuclear arms, climate and gender

Reflecting on the challenges we face as the world enters a new decade, Mary Robinson highlights the importance of multilateralism and collective solidarity

Multilateral solutions are vital to tackling the global challenges we face

As the United Nations marks the start of its 75th year, Mary Robinson addresses the Security Council on multilateralism, nuclear arms control and gender equality.

2019: a year in review

2019 has been a busy year for The Elders and the world. Find out more about our activities.

COP 25: High hopes but disappointing conclusions in Madrid

COP 25: High hopes but disappointing conclusions in Madrid

Nothing About Us, Without Us: the Global Refugee-Led Network

As the Global Refugee Forum takes place on 17-18 December, our guest bloggers, Mohammed Badran and Sana Mustafa explore the importance of refugee voices in the decision-making process.

The Elders call on regional leaders to kickstart South Sudan peace talks

The Elders call upon leaders from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) regional bloc to urgently convene talks with the leaders of South Sudan to advance peace negotiations after a series of delays and setbacks.

The Escazú Agreement places human rights at the heart of tackling the climate crisis

The Escazú Agreement is a unique and historic achievement, not only for Latin America and the Caribbean but for the world, because it specifically offers protection to human rights defenders on environmental issues.

States alone cannot deliver the Paris Agreement - the role of the financial community is critical

Speaking at the F20 Reception at COP25, Mary Robinson calls for cooperative action towards sustainable development.

Gender equality is key to tackling the climate crisis

Speaking on Gender Day at COP25 in Madrid, Mary Robinson calls for inclusivity to be lived out in the actions we all take when tackling the climate emergency.

Latin America can still lead the world on climate justice

Zeid Raad Al Hussein calls on Latin American governments to ratify the Escazú Agreement -the first treaty of its kind in the world that specifically includes the protection of human rights defenders in environmental matters. Published in O Globo & El Pais

Women, girls, and non-binary leaders are demonstrating the kind of leadership our world so badly needs

Women, girls, and non-binary leaders are demonstrating the kind of leadership our world so badly needs

Nuclear weapons are still the greatest threat to world peace. NATO must take action now to protect humanity

The risk of a nuclear war is higher than at any time since the end of the Cold War. Mary Robinson warns leaders meeting at NATO's London Summit in London to seize the opportunity to prevent a new arms race. Published in The Independent.

Attacks on multilateral system threaten global peace and security

The Elders' statement on the unprecedented attack on multilateralism

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