In the face of multiple global crises, from the COVID-19 pandemic, to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, to the devastating climate emergency, heads of state descended on New York this week to negotiate solutions and responses. All around the city, stakeholder groups convened satellite meetings seeking to advance the Sustainable Development Goals under these challenging circumstances. 
 
One non-government organization, Global Nation, released its inaugural, data-driven “Global Solidarity Report” at a pop-up Goals House in Central Park’s Tavern on the Green. Funded by the Gates Foundation, the report was the product of work by several partners, including MIT’s Center for International Studies (CIS).
 
While detailing multiple challenges, especially an uptick in violent conflict around the world, the report offers some measure of hope, indicating that approximately half the people surveyed in countries around the world expressed a high level of connection with others across national borders.
 
In the forward to the report, Barbados prime minister, Mia Mottley writes, “We need to channel that good will into real action. But we do not have the luxury of time.”
 
CIS director Evan Lieberman was among the report’s contributors, alongside WHO special envoy for climate change and health, Vanessa Kerry, and former deputy president Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka. Other research partners included Glocalities, NYU’s Center on International Cooperation, data.org, Pandemic Action Network, and others.
 
“I was delighted to work with Global Nation on their Global Solidarity Report, which highlights the importance of building a sense of global community to address the world’s most important problems,” said Lieberman, who is the Total Professor of Political Science and Contemporary Africa. “The message of the report resonates with the calls of the UN Secretary General, who at the general assembly this week highlighted the need for more unity and solidarity. I hope that we can find ways for MIT and CIS to support this important mission.”