Washington, DC, 24 July 2024 – In September 2024, Member States of the United Nations will sign the Pact for the Future, a transformational blueprint for the future of global governance. It contains language on an important new mechanism for responding to complex global shocks, as described in Action 55 of the latest revision released on 17 July 2024. This mechanism – called
emergency platforms – will strengthen the international response to complex global shocks by granting the U.N. Secretary-General the authority to operationalize a coordinated United Nations emergency response.
Today, a coalition of organizations dedicated to disaster reduction and emergency management – Global Shield, the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM), BuildStrong America, the Observatorio de Riesgos Catastróficos Globales (OCRG), and a diverse group of organizations across the world from the UNDRR’s Stakeholder Engagement Mechanism – have signed a letter in support of the emergency platforms concept.
They urge member states to continue supporting the emergency platforms concept and provide the Secretary-General with the necessary authority, resources, and support to fully develop and eventually convene emergency platforms in future complex global shocks.
Jared Brown, Executive Director and Cofounder of Global Shield, an international advocacy organization devoted to reducing global catastrophic risk, released the following statement:
“The world is vulnerable to global shocks and catastrophes. The most vulnerable countries will be hit hardest by these scenarios, whether they be global conflict between nuclear-armed states, another global pandemic, critical tipping points in global and regional ecosystems, and sudden disruption to food systems.
The COVID-19 pandemic severely hindered our collective progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals. Better management of future crises of this magnitude, or possible far worse catastrophes, is necessary if we are to reach the SDGs in 2030 or our future goals for collective progress in any other future decade.
The emergency platforms concept currently being negotiated by Member States as part of the Pact for the Future is a potentially transformational initiative. It would provide the international system with a much-needed coordination mechanism for global crisis management.
We are heartened to see that the latest revisions retain the concept. We urge the member states to continue their support until the Pact for the Future is agreed at the Summit of the Future. However, even if agreed, it is only a concept on paper.
Once agreed, Member States and the various bodies under the United Nations must support the UN Secretary-General in developing the processes and protocols necessary for convening emergency platforms.
Another global shock is not a matter of if, but when. The United Nations must be ready. The ability to convene an emergency platform quickly and effectively will be a core component of the international, multilateral system for future economic and social progress.”
About Global Shield:
Global Shield is the world’s first international advocacy organization dedicated to reducing global catastrophic risk. Global Shield envisions a world in which all governments have acted decisively to reduce and, where possible, eliminate global catastrophic risk, including from climate tipping points, severe pandemics, nuclear war and the misuse of emerging technologies. Global Shield started in 2023 with the audacious goal of establishing a presence in capitals around the world to drive policy action. They are currently focused on US policy, including the implementation of the Global Catastrophic Risk Management Act (GCRMA, 6 U.S.C. §821-825), and UN activities relating to the Summit of the Future in September 2024.
Contact Information
Jared Brown – Executive Director, Global Shield Washington, DC
jared.brown@globalshieldpolicy.org, +1 858 344 4941
Rumtin Sepasspour – Director of Policy, Global Shield Canberra, Australia
rumtin.sepasspour@globalshieldpolicy.org, +61 402 988 383
