Climate change, pandemics and nuclear weapons pose an existential threat to humanity, according to The Elders in an open letter published today. Signatories to this letter include singer Annie Lennox and grandchildren of J. Robert Oppenheimer as well as Future of Life Institute; which was established by MIT cosmologist Max Tegmark and Skype co-founder Jaan Tallinn to direct transformative technologies like AI toward benefiting life while protecting against large scale dangers.
What Is The Elders from letter?
More than 100 politicians, academics and celebrities including Annie Lennox, Gordon Brown and Charles Oppenheimer’s grandson issued an open letter warning humanity of numerous existential threats, such as climate change, pandemics, nuclear weapons and runaway AI. They urged world decision-makers to prioritize “long-view leadership” by creating a new global architecture with comprehensive safety protocols similar to that found within the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and International Atomic Energy Agency.
Richard Branson and Peter Gabriel first came up with the concept for “The Elders” in 1999, inspired by their belief that an interdependent world needed an established group of leaders who could assist with complex challenges. Branson pitched his idea to Nelson Mandela, who brought in other prominent global figures before unveiling it on his birthday in 2007. Martti Ahtisaari serves as Chair, while Martti Ahtisaari (Kofi Annan), Lakhdar Brahimi, Gro Brundtland, Fernando Henrique Cardoso, Graca Machel, Mary Robinson and Desmond Tutu also act as Elders. Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi also participates in this advisory council. The Elders work in partnership with the Future of Life Institute, an non-profit founded by MIT cosmologist Max Tegmark and Skype co-founder Jaan Tallinn that facilitates transformative technologies like artificial intelligence to benefit life while mitigating large-scale risks.
The Elders Call for a Long-View Leadership
More than 130 politicians, celebrities and entrepreneurs – including former Prime Minister Gordon Brown – have signed an open letter from The Elders and Future of Life Institute calling for “long-view leadership” against emerging global threats that include climate and nature crises, pandemics, nuclear weapons proliferation and unchecked artificial intelligence (AI).
The Elders insist world leaders act quickly to avoid catastrophic losses of life and livelihood, by funding a transition away from fossil fuels, concluding a fair global climate agreement treaty, restarting nuclear arms negotiations talks and developing governance frameworks for AI technologies.
The Elders was established by Nelson Mandela and Branson in 2007 to bring together independent leaders who share an interest in peace and human rights worldwide. Members include Mary Robinson (Chair), Ban Ki-moon, Graca Machel, Lakhdar Brahimi, Gro Harlem Brundtland Gro Harlem Brundtland Gro Harlem Brundtland Gro Harlem Brundtland Gro Harlem Brundtland Gro Harlem Brundtland Gro Harlem Brundtland Gro Harlem Brundtland Gro Harlem Brundtland Gro Harlem Brundtland Gro Harlem Brundtland then Ernesto Zedillo along with distinguished scholars such as Martti Ahtisaari among others.
The Elders Call for Urgent Multilateral Action
The Elders are calling upon world leaders to show a determination to solve problems rather than simply manage them; wisdom in making decisions based on science and reason; and humility when listening to all concerned parties. They seek cooperation among countries to address racial and gender discrimination, the legacy of colonialism, inadequate social security nets and workers rights provisions, chronic indebtedness among poor countries, as well as online misinformation campaigns spreading mistrust or hate speech.
This letter, published with Future of Life Institute (a nonprofit founded by MIT cosmologist Max Tegmark and Skype co-founder Jaan Tallinn to ensure transformative technologies like AI help benefit life rather than increase risk), demands immediate multilateral action against climate change, pandemics, nuclear weapons proliferation and runaway artificial intelligence. Specifically it calls for financing fossil fuel transition, signing an equitable pandemic treaty treaty agreement, restarting nuclear arms negotiations negotiations and developing global governance for AI technologies.
The Elders Call for Global Governance
The Elders use their collective experience and independence to advocate for peace, justice, human rights and sustainability on our planet. Their membership includes former leaders (Gordon Brown) Nobel Laureates scientists youth activists business people including Richard Branson as well as philanthropists such as Jaan Tallinn’s Future of Life Institute as they call for “long-view leadership”. According to them this is defined as being determined to resolve intractable problems rather than simply manage them with scientific evidence and reason informed decisions along with listening carefully to those affected”.
The Elders and Future of Life Institute demand urgent multilateral action, such as financing the shift away from fossil fuels, signing an equitable pandemic treaty agreement, restarting nuclear arms talks negotiations and developing global governance for AI that ensures it becomes an agent for good instead of becoming an existential risk. They note that world leaders are failing to act or cooperate due to geopolitical rivalries being prioritized over humanitarian goals as well as attacks against democratic safeguards.
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