Embracing Change: Building Social, Economic and Environmental Resilience
April 19, 2012 - April 20, 2012
This exclusive and dynamic gathering sought to identify ways that individuals, communities, regions and nations can enhance their resilience capacity and emerge stronger from social, economic and environmental crises. It was a uniquely intimate idea-generating session of 100-125 global thinkers, pioneers and implementers from a variety of backgrounds, including government, business, finance, cyber-security, disaster preparedness and more.
Opening Plenary Panel – “Navigating the Challenges of Global Change”
Our global system is made up of a series of interconnected sub-systems – economic, environmental and social – that are under constant pressure from chronic stresses and acute shocks. To increase resilience, we must develop an enhanced understanding of each system independently as well as how the systems interrelate as a coherent whole. This panel discussion provided insights and analysis into some of the world’s most critical systems including their interdependencies on other major systems and the major stresses and shocks they face.
How do we make
the systems of today
resilient to the
unknown challenges
of tomorrow?
Panel Discussion – “Building 21st Century Resilience: Likely Threats and Future Opportunities”
This panel gathered a set of experts from varied, yet connected, backgrounds to project the shocks and chronic stresses that are likely to take place in the future that pose threats to society. Conversely, the panel also discussed the threats or stresses that they believe are overstated or misunderstood. The panel also discussed the threats or stresses that are overstated or misunderstood, and the opportunities that exist on the horizon to build resilience.
Resilience Perspectives
This portion of the event showcased some of the world's most fascinating thinkers and doers in more informal and interactive short sessions in front of the entire event audience. We featured experts and non-experts, who have experienced resilience opportunities or have a significant point of view on the topic, to give their perspectives on different aspects of resilience. Speakers made measured predictions on the most critical future shocks and their implications, or drew attention to an unmet need or riff on an interesting, but related topic.
Breakout Program
Participants with a mixture of experience and expertise were split into groups to discuss and prioritize 2-3 integrated strategies for building resilience. All participants eventually gathered again to hear the convergent and divergent ideas coming out of the breakout groups.
Participants
Dr. Judith Rodin, President of The Rockefeller Foundation; Adm. Mike Mullen, USN (Ret.), 17th Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff; David Gregory, NBC News; Michael Chertoff, Founder and Managing Principal, The Chertoff Group; Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change; Steven Rattner, Chairman, Willett Advisors, LLC; David Blood, Managing Partner, Generation Investment Management; J. Eric Smith, CEO, Swiss Re Americas; Ian Bremmer, Founder and President, Eurasia Group; Larry Brilliant, President, Skoll Global Threats Fund