On 23 October 2026, UNU will host “Global Governance in an Age of Polycrises: Towards a Second United Nations Charter”, a conversation with Augusto López-Claros, Executive Director of the Global Governance Forum. This event will start at 18:30 in the 1F Annex Space at UNU Headquarters in Tokyo.
Our age is often described as an age of polycrises — a period of compounding crises confronting human societies. From climate change and pandemics to armed conflicts and growing geopolitical tensions, global governance systems face increasing pressure from such interconnected crises. These challenges, which cast a shadow over the future of humankind, can only be solved in the context of much stronger international cooperation, involving states, civil society organizations, the business community and other stakeholders.
Augusto López-Claros will join UNU Senior Vice-Rector Aya Suzuki for a conversation on how the United Nations Charter, adopted in 1945 and a foundation of the modern international order, can be reformed to face the challenges of the 21st century. Key to this discussion is the concept of a "Second United Nations Charter", a proposal to modernize the UN for a new generation and enable the international system to develop and enhance democratic legitimacy and representation in global decision-making and implement meaningful solutions.
This conversation will take place on the eve of United Nations Day, which marks the entry into force of the UN Charter on 24 October 1945, offering a timely opportunity to reflect on the Charter’s legacy and its future relevance.
This event is part of the UNU Conversation Series, which aims to foster audience participation. You are encouraged to engage with the speakers during the conversation and at the reception that will follow, where all event attendees are invited to enjoy hors d’oeuvres and drinks while exchanging ideas and making new contacts.
This event will be in English. Advance registration (by 22 October at 15:00) is required. Please click on the REGISTER button above to access the online registration page. Please be prepared to present identification at check-in.
Please note that food and photography are prohibited during events at UNU Headquarters, unless prior permission is granted by UNU.
About the speaker
Augusto López-Claros is an international economist and the Executive Director of the Global Governance Forum. He has published several books on global governance reform and is currently spearheading the Global Governance Forum’s drafting of a Second United Nations Charter.
He brings more than 30 years of experience in international organizations, including most recently as Director of the Global Indicators Group at the World Bank. Previously he was Chief Economist at the World Economic Forum, where he directed the Global Competitiveness Program and edited the Global Competitiveness Report, the Forum’s flagship publication. Before joining the Forum, he worked for several years in the financial sector in London, with a special focus on emerging markets. Furthermore, he was the International Monetary Fund’s Resident Representative in Russia during the 1990s. He has also been a Senior Fellow at the Edmund Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University.
Educated in England and the United States, he received a diploma in Mathematical Statistics from Cambridge University and a PhD in Economics from Duke University. He has lectured at some of the world's leading universities, think tanks and international organizations.
