A virtual conversation with Elizabeth Cousens of the UN Foundation.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the United Nations, and it comes at a time when pillars of global engagement seem under siege from multiple directions. At the same time, the past year has demonstrated the essential role international institutions play in promoting life-saving cooperation across borders…and the risks we face if that cooperation is obstructed or undermined.

United Nations Foundation President and CEO Elizabeth Cousens joins the Pacific Council for a virtual conversation about how the United Nations and the World Health Organization have helped shape the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic and how global efforts are connected to local efforts, including that work has directly impacted lives in Southern California. We look at the lessons learned from this crisis and innovations that are emerging as a response to the pandemic, and discuss the United Nations’ important role in confronting global challenges that face the next generation of leaders, from climate change to economic inequity.

Featuring:

Ambassador Elizabeth Cousens, President and CEO, UN Foundation

Elizabeth Cousens has been at the forefront of global policymaking and innovation for over 20 years. She is a diplomat and thought leader who has worked on the frontlines of peace processes, played an influential role in policy innovations from peacebuilding to the Sustainable Development Goals, and helped build public-private partnerships to solve global challenges at scale.

Moderator:

Dilpreet Sidhu, Director of International Relations, Policy, and Protocol, Office of Mayor Eric Garcetti, City of Los Angeles