Nudhara Yusuf and Daniel Perell of the Coalition for the United Nations We Need—also with the Stimson Center's Global Governance Innovation Network, and the Bah...
A legacy of change: Carlos Alvarado Quesada on breaking inertia for a sustainable future
From the sidelines of the COP28 climate conference in Dubai, UAE, in November 2023, UN Necessary’s Daniel Perell spoke with former president of Costa Rica Carlos Andrés Alvarado Quesada on his administration’s efforts to push against societal inertia to lead Costa Rica on the path to decarbonization. Drawing inspiration from his grandparents’ generation, which abolished Costa Rica’s military, and the responsibility he feels to his family and future generations, Alvarado shares the motivations behind his bold climate policies. He discusses how tapping into human willpower and embracing the responsibility of shaping a sustainable future is key to overcoming the challenges posed by climate change.Dan and his fellow UN Necessary host, Nudhara Yusuf, also reflect on how a conversation from almost a year ago remains relevant today—during the United Nations General Assembly opening and the recent Summit of the Future. Mr. Alvarado’s reflections range from the complexity of effecting change, highlighting the importance of empathy, collaboration, and inclusivity when tackling global crises. And his powerful analogy of humanity’s collective responsibility—likening it to pointillism, where each action contributes to a broader picture of hope and sustainability—offers a thought-provoking look at leadership, legacy, and the role we all play in creating a better world for the future.
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Dialogue is more than talking points: Felipe Paullier on enabling youth to reform the United Nations
In the last UN Necessary episode ahead of the Summit of the Future, Nudhara Yusuf and Daniel Perell speak with Uruguayan doctor and activist Felipe Paullier, the UN’s first Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs, to explore his vision for empowering young voices in multilateral spaces. Felipe shares his personal motivations and the complexities of leading a new office—while trying to bridge the gap between institutional governance and the world’s youth. His reflections touch on the need for cultural transformation and reform within the UN, highlighting the importance of authentic exchange, and valuing local engagement over HQ-centric approaches.Felipe’s deep belief in the power of institutions, despite their imperfections, shines through as he discusses how the United Nations can evolve to meet 21st-century challenges. His comments are a must-listen for anyone interested in global governance, youth empowerment, and the future of multilateralism.
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Something’s going to give: Natalie Samarasinghe on reforming the United Nations in a world on the brink
In this episode of UN Necessary, recorded in March and July, hosts Nudhara Yusuf and Daniel Perell dive into the complexities of global governance and United Nations reform with Natalie Samarasinghe, outgoing global director of advocacy at the Open Society Foundations, who was previously executive director of the UN Association-UK.Recorded amidst the bustling atmosphere of the March 2024 Global Women Leaders Voices Dialogue, in Madrid, UN Necessary’s latest conversation covers the need for a new theory of change in international relations, challenges in empowering local communities through global institutions, and an appeal to remember the UN’s role in setting universal norms while rethinking its humanitarian efforts. Join us as we explore the evolving landscape of multilateralism, the critical reforms needed in the face of global challenges, and why, despite the inertia and danger of the present moment, Natalie remains optimistic about the future.
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The UN reforms we need: David Passarelli on hope, more science and less interference
UN Necessary’s hosts, Nudhara Yusuf and Daniel Perell, share reflections on the United Nations Civil Society Conference, which was held between May 9-10 in Nairobi, Kenya, and how it might pave the way for civil society to play a meaningful September 2024 Summit of the Future. The episode was recorded before the conference was held.Dan and Nudhara then talk with David Passarelli, from the United Nations University Center for Policy Research, who recently helped prepare a key report to Secretary-General António Guterres ahead of the Summit of the Future. In this latest episode of UN Necessary, David shares insights from his work with the High-Level Advisory Board on Effective Multilateralism, emphasizing the need for reform in global finance, digital governance, and environmental policy, and the need to let science not politics drive policy. And the experiences that have given him hope.
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The world at a crossroads: Maria João Rodrigues on how multilateralism can include everyone
Before he was Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres was prime minister of Portugal; and before she was President of the Foundation for European Progressive Studies, Maria João Rodrigues was Minister for Employment and Education Training in Mr. Guterres’s government, as well as an advisor, and later serving as a Member of European Parliament. In the latest episode of UN Necessary, Ms. Rodrigues regales Nudhara and Dan with tales of pushing former US president Bill Clinton to rethink global governance as just one example of her experiences working for an inclusive multilateral cooperation.The Summit of the Future process—and efforts at UN reform—can learn from the experience of the European Union, Ms. Rodrigues says. Governments need to coordinate across peace and security, the global climate crisis, social issues, technology and finance, mobilizing all stakeholders, if the world is to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Right now the multilateral system is too weak to deal and could splinter—unless it becomes more fair.
Nudhara Yusuf and Daniel Perell of the Coalition for the United Nations We Need—also with the Stimson Center's Global Governance Innovation Network, and the Baha’i International Community—look ahead to the UN’s 2024 Summit of the Future through a series of intimate and penetrating discussions with many of the international figures contributing to the Summit’s shaping. Join them as they talk with people from all regions of the world, and with diverse international service experience, as they consult on how the Summit of the Future can realize its promise.
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