A summary of Hon Rev Dr Lynn Arnold AO, Address to UNGA81 – SDG Conference
23rd September 2026

“IT WAS THE BEST OF TIMES, IT WAS THE WORST OF TIMES”
RESPONDING TO GLOBAL POPULATION MOVEMENTS

Drawing on Hon Rev Dr Lynn Arnold AO’s address, this speech is ultimately a call for communities, nations and civil society to work together in pursuit of the common good. Reflecting on the conference theme of “common ground to common good”, Arnold revisits the concept of “commonweal”, describing it as a broader vision of collective wellbeing that extends beyond economic prosperity. He challenges audiences to look beyond individual interests and recognise their shared responsibility in addressing global issues, arguing that organisations and communities exist because “they want the worst of times to become the best of times”.

A powerful theme throughout the address is inclusion and the importance of resisting division. Speaking about global population movements, Arnold highlights the risks of creating an “us and them” mentality and echoes Nikos Chrysogelos’s observation that “the solution must be collaboration; therefore, we must build bridges not walls.” He argues that lasting solutions come not from isolation, but from understanding the root causes of inequality, displacement and disadvantage. In perhaps one of the speech’s most compelling messages, Arnold urges audiences to “reframe our thinking from ‘them and us’” and instead “start thinking about community globally”, presenting inclusion as essential to achieving a more hopeful and sustainable future.

The speech concludes with a strong endorsement of collective action and international partnership. Drawing parallels with the multilateral cooperation that followed World War II, Arnold calls for “another multilateral collaborative effort” to address contemporary global challenges. He reinforces the idea that communities, governments and civil society must work side by side to transform shared values into meaningful action, noting that “there can be no spring of hope” unless people are prepared to confront difficult realities together. His closing message is both practical and inspiring: lasting progress depends on nations and communities pursuing prosperity not at the expense of others, but through cooperation, partnership and a commitment to the wellbeing of all.

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