A message from

Ban Ki-moon

Deputy Chair of The Elders and former UN Secretary General

Dear Friends,

We have just completed a successful Elders visit to China where Mary Robinson, Ernesto Zedillo, Lakhdar Brahimi and I discussed a range of topics with President Xi and other Chinese government ministers, including: responsible multilateralism, human rights, climate change, nuclear non-proliferation and international security. 

A clear example of the need for responsible multilateralism can be found in the world’s response to climate change. In a recent article for The Elders, I stressed how efforts to halt or reduce its threat through geoengineering could wreak untold damage on people and the environment. As such, governance rules must be put in place, and I was disappointed that this could not be agreed upon at the UN Environmental Assembly last month. 

Mary Robinson underlined the intergenerational injustice caused by climate change during her acceptance of the Kew International Medal in London. She reiterated our shared admiration of school children who are striking for climate justice – true global citizens!

Finally, as the Commission on the Status of Women met last month, Mary Robinson highlighted the importance of making space at high-level discussions. Hina Jilani reminded us all how the burden of injustice falls all too heavily on women, children and other vulnerable groups during her intervention at the OECD in Lisbon. 

Ban Ki-moon