How can we reach a sustainable and equitable new normal in a post COVID-19 world? This virtual meeting addresses game-changing measures that will help build a more resilient world and summarizes key policy insights on how to move forward sustainably.

Earth © Shuang Wang | Dreamstime

The COVID-19 pandemic has had far-reaching consequences beyond the spread of the virus itself. There have been immediate adverse social and economic impacts including significant increases in people living below the poverty line and the potential for widespread famine. Progress that was being made in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, now has the potential to fall behind.

IIASA and the International Science Council (ISC), in cooperation with the Permanent Missions of Norway and South Africa to the United Nations, are organizing an interactive discussion on Transformations within reach, as part of the 75th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) side events.

This event took place virtually and can be watched below

This virtual meeting will present key insights and recommendations that have emerged from extensive consultations with the scientific community and which suggest a way to operationalize a sustainable and equitable new normal. It is an opportunity to assess what we have learned from the COVID-19 response and to determine what has worked (and thus should be preserved and built on) and what did not (and thus should be avoided).

This event brings together leaders from academia and governments to exchange key insights and recommendations, including:

Agenda of the event is available here.

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Background

Starting in May 2020, IIASA and the International Science Council (ISC) launched the IIASA – ISC Consultative Science Platform: Bouncing Forward Sustainably Post COVID-19. The two organizations have drawn on their combined strengths, expertise, and large scientific communities, to come up with a set of insights and recommendations based on a series of online consultations that have brought together over 200 experts from all regions of the world. 

These online consultations have focused on four themes: strengthening science systems, responsive governance, resilient food systems, and sustainable energy, co-led by scientists from IIASA and the ISC.

The platform is informed and supported by an advisory board under the patronage of the former UN Secretary General, H.E. Ban Ki-moon and the Chair of the Elders H.E. Mary Robinson. Currently, the initiative has the following partners: Ban Ki-moon Center, Future Earth, the Earth League, and the Vienna Energy Forum.