This session aims to announce the new Lancet Commission on Societal Resilience in a New Pandemic Age: Lessons for the Present from the Future at the UNGA79 Science Summit. The commission seeks to leverage experience and lessons learned in the United States and broaden the conversation with stakeholders from around the world to codevelop science-driven policy roadmaps that are inclusive, clear, future-oriented, convergent, and actionable for funders and implementers in the post-Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) era. Commission Overview On March 11, 2020, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus declared COVID-19 a pandemic, catapulting the threat of emerging infectious diseases into the global consciousness. Yet, COVID-19 is only the latest chapter in a new pandemic age characterized by an increasing number and diversity of outbreaks driven by complex ecological and societal interactions. Confronting this new time of uncertainly and existential risk in effective, efficient, and equitable ways requires the U.S. and globally interdependent societies to focus beyond pandemics, to convergent principles and resources that promote greater community resilience across all the connected challenges of this new age. Our Commission's founding goals are thus to advance novel approaches, frameworks, and policy roadmaps for societal resilience by shifting attention from tools bespoke for pandemic prevention or systems targeted towards any one specific disease to the personal, social, economic, and cultural capacities; leadership strategies; information systems; and scientific and technological infrastructures that enable communities to be resilient against a wide range of coexisting health, environmental, and socioeconomic challenges. Session Objectives and Structure This UNGA79 Science Summit session offers a unique opportunity to converge early insights and opportunities from this diverse group of attendees, integrating North American and global perspectives, to source the next steps for the Commission and consider rigorous dimensions of societal resilience and science-based measures of success. This new Commission comes at a critical time. The United Nations (UN) will launch the Summit of the Future on 22-23 September to discuss post-SDG agenda setting. The Lancet Commission on Societal Resilience can assist formative work to aid this agenda, ideating how the UN, WHO, and other UN-specialised agencies can set resilient goals, develop policies, and converge resources that holistically strengthen the patchwork of communities forming today’s global society. In addition, the Fourth UN International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) will take place from June 30 to July 3, 2025, in Seville, Spain. The pandemic exposed significant weaknesses in global health infrastructure, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, where health systems buckled under pressure. In Seville, delegates will discuss innovative ways to finance these systems, such as pandemic bonds, insurance schemes, and international funds dedicated to pandemic preparedness. The aim is to ensure that financial resources are readily available, allowing for a swift and effective response to future health crises. The link between Development Finance and science needs to be explored. The session will prepare recommendations for FfD4. To achieve these outcomes, we envision the following session structure: - Introduce the Commission's motivations and goals with Commission Co-Chairs and invited session participants.
- Engage with select participants as panellists to provide their unique perspectives on the importance of developing resilient communities under the current environmental and societal context.
- Open a meaningful discussion with participants and the international audience regarding opportunities and operational frameworks to build resilience into the fabric of global communities.
- Reference the enabling (global) policy and regulatory framework necessary for enabling pandemic responses.
- Formulate recommendations for the UN Summit of the Future process, including the UN FfD4, the European Union, and post-SDG priorities.
Agenda
16h00-16h30 OPENING & INTRODUCTION
Welcoming Remarks:
Declan Kirrane, Chairman and Managing Director, United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Science Summit
Opening Remarks
Dr. Rick Bright, former United States Deputy Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response and the Director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) and
Lancet Commissioner
Introduction to
the Lancet US Commission on “Societal Resilience in a New Pandemic Age: Lessons for the Present from the Future”: Drs. Eliah Aronoff-Spencer, Richard M. Carpiano, and Lara Vojnov, Lancet Commission Co-Chairs
Overview of the Commission—Refocusing on societal resilience and session activities:
Dr. Eliah Aronoff-Spencer
16h30-17h30 PANEL DISCUSSION
Defining predictors and predicates of societal resilience in a new post-SDG pandemic era.Opening remarks and moderator:
Dr. Miriam Sabin, North American Executive Editor,
The LancetPanelists: 3-minute flash talks and guided discussion with audience participation and polling.
17h30-17h55 AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT AND DISCUSSION:
Question and Answer period, including real-time audience survey
17h55-18h00 CONCLUSION:
17:55-18:00
Closing Remarks:
Declan Kirrane
