Maria Fernanda Espinosa, the President of the 73^rd Session of the UN General Assembly, co-Chair of the Coalition for the UN We Need, and the Lancet COVID-19 Commission makes a compelling case that, in confronting multiple global challenges in the period ahead, what we need is a broader acceptance of our shared responsibilities and a heightened sense of urgency. Faced with forces that are undermining the basis of civilized society, radical changes are needed to protect the development gains of the past several decades and to ensure a safer more sustainable world for ourselves and future generations. More multilateralism and international cooperation are key components of the solution.