What is the impact of individuals upon history and is it true that our past is largely reflected in the biographies of (mostly) great men? And what lessons can we learn from the good uses and misuses of power for human welfare?

Earth system trends drawn from science-based targets for nature suggest we are very close to multiple tipping points which, if realized, will deeply destabilize the planet and provoke needless human suffering. Time is short; we need to act now.

Global financial crises often reflect moral and ethical failures. We need to rethink the foundations of our current approaches to economics, so that the economy does not become a force for social dysfunction and is instead a source of prosperity for all.

COVID-19 exposed the vulnerabilities of our global health systems in a fully interconnected world with a single global economy. We need to prepare for the next global pandemic, building on science and a renewed understanding of global solidarity.

Can the 2024 UN Summit of the Future be a catalyst for much needed changes to our global governance architecture? How can we shift from reaffirmations of existing principles to tangible reforms on the ground?

Our perverse and wasteful economy is no longer serving the needs of humanity. We need to proactively and urgently rethink the foundations of our economic system so that it creates security and stability for all, not a privileged few.

Renewed tensions between the global powers highlight the dangers of global war at a time when the international arms control architecture has unraveled. We must not lose hope; there is a path to end wars and unite the world.

Managing the transition to a renewable energy global economy is a complex undertaking that will require the sharing of knowledge, imaginative schemes to raise resources to finance it, and a new ethos of international cooperation.

We face a future fraught with existential risks. Future generations deserve a rekindling of the enthusiasm for institutional innovations that we last saw at the end of World War II. From climate change to disarmament, the agenda is urgent, and we cannot fail to act.

Democratic legitimacy is a core pillar of good governance. Moving toward the establishment of a global parliament, even if initially with largely advisory powers, would be a powerful innovation to our flawed international governance architecture.

There are multiple sources of risk to our future, from accelerating climate change, to renewed arms races and an unsteady nuclear order, to unresolved poverty and inequality problems. But we must not despair: these challenges are amenable to creative solutions.

How can an enhanced recognition of the interconnectedness of science and religion contribute to helping us understand how to better govern our increasingly interdependent global community of nations?

Latin America is by far the most violent continent in the world. Transnational organized crime, weak rule of law and the highest levels of inequality on the planet are the culprits. A Criminal Court against Transnational Organized Crime could be part of the solution.

We need to fill an accountability vacuum with respect to kleptocratic regimes that are engaged in grand corruption. Grand corruption has huge economic costs and undermines efforts aimed at sustainable development.

How can human rights become a catalyst for the transformation of latent capacities into capabilities that will create the conditions for the development of the human family? Why is this question vital for the future of humanity?