Is Canada ready to answer the call? A multilateralist approach to the polycrisis

The following is excerpted from remarks delivered at the Canada Growth Summit, on April 2023.

As the world recovers from a global pandemic, it continues to face seemingly insurmountable challenges ranging from rising political tensions, such as the war against Ukraine and surging temperatures that threaten the demise of our planet, all while navigating rapid technological growth.?

The convergence of these global challenges has fueled economic instability and magnified systemic inequality, leading to what scholars call “the polycrisis”, or? threat multipliers , events that “escalate social, political and economic tension.”?

We do not need to look far to see harrowing effects of the polycrisis.? For example, the pandemic instigated a worldwide health crisis, but it has also contributed to the rise of xenophobia and racism towards China and people of Chinese descent all around the world. We understand that its impact has also varied by gender, socioeconomic status and other factors.?

A polycrisis also contributes to disinformation, the dissemination of false information for the purpose of influencing and thwarting public opinion and policies. Examples of this are prevalent in the Kremlin’s claims that the war against the Ukraine is for the protection of the Russian public and that it continues to support resolution despite instigating conflict.?

And the climate crisis has proven that it is not “gender neutral”, magnifying existing inequalities among women and racialized groups. For example, girls in low-middle income countries are being removed from the school system in order to help secure food for their families due to an increase in drought and severe weather events such as floods.?

We only have to look within our own country to see where inequalities and injustices thrive.? While many of us may take access to clean drinking water for granted there are still 28 long-term drinking advisories implemented across 28 communities in Canada — many of them Indigenous.??

The UN Adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development recognizes multilateralism as a key lever in turning the tide on the polycrisis as no single country has the knowledge or research capacity or capability to solve these intersectional challenges on their own.? It is worth nothing that there are 5 billion people in Asia compared to just over 1 billion in the Americas and 2 billion in Europe, the Middle East and Africa combined. These regions are at different stages of development and we need to consider the unique challenges they face and how we can transcend cultures, sectors and borders to bring industries, government and academia together, here in Canada, and around the world to design efficient and equitable policies that maximize the well-being of all.??

In this context, what do expect of Canada?? Our reputation as a peacekeeping country deeply defined by values such as inclusivity, fairness, sustainability and democracy is well-established. But what role do we want to play as a convenor and catalyst for positive change in the world? What opportunities do we have to matter???

Canada’s higher education system is one of our greatest assets to step up as a leader that can and must shape the global response to polycrisis. Canadian universities, in fact, do incredibly well when it comes to our impact on the UN SDGs.? According to Times Higher Education , 31 of our institutions ranked in the top 200 of the best universities in the world.? But is Canada as influential as we should be, and how we can leverage our strengths to make a difference???

By tapping into our universities and colleges, Canada has a chance to elevate its position and its influence by leveraging the power of research and nurturing the future talent pipeline that will enable us to lead in areas that we can have the most impact as multilateralists— such as sustainability and climate change, decolonization, equity, diversity and inclusion, technological innovation and social justice.?

Canada’s unique research and innovation ecosystem is fertile ground for driving much needed solutions thanks in part to the design of Canadian post-secondary institutions and our funding bodies.? The role played by open science in the search for a COVID-19 vaccine, for example, was not achieved in isolation, but rather it mobilized researchers around the world to identify novel solutions, from contact tracing and forecasting to the use of 3D printing to mass manufacturing of protective face-shields, to contributing to vaccine development and rollout here in Canada and beyond.??

Each of these outcomes was the product of collaborative, interdisciplinary research, and they would not be possible without an “all-in” approach from scientists, businesses, and governments around the world.??

Another great example is the Human Genome Project . Launched in 1990, it remains the world’s largest biological project, involving 20 global universities and research centres, setting a model for what multilateral collaboration in pursuit of a common goal can achieve.??

In a landmark, global scientific effort, the project produced a genome sequence that accounts for over 90 per cent of the human genome. The project played a significant role in sequencing the human genome revolutionizing biomedical research and policy. Its role in generating support for open access and the sharing of scientific data is a significant contribution to science.?

There is no shortage of important research in Canada. I am humbled by colleagues tackling critical societal issues — using AI to enhance pandemic preparedness in low-middle income countries, studying how technology is transforming society, or mitigating the effects of the next big global threat such as anti-microbial resistance.??

Every day our researchers are making significant contributions to the polyresponse the world needs, developing international policies and movements that are founded on the evidence and informed by interdisciplinary perspectives.??

Yet despite these transformative research advances and the stellar reputation of Canada’s research-intensive institutions, Canada increasingly lags behind much needed research investments.?

Other countries around the world are also feeling the pinch of inflation. They, too, are grappling with the aftereffects of the pandemic, and yet, they are doubling down on their commitments to research. They understand that investing in research and innovation, including training the next generation of changemakers, is not only crucial for Canada to be part of a multilateral response to polycrisis but for the economic growth that Canada needs to stay competitive in a world where growth and influence is shifting east.??

Europe’s wildcards are switching to English language degrees, keeping costs down and expanding access in Asia.? Asia is attracting Asians to stay at home due to increasing stability, joint international education ventures, and robust job markets.?

The consequences of neglecting higher education as a top priority are significant. Over the last number of years, we have already started to see a decline in social mobility, and most recently Canada has been singled out as the only country among the Group of Seven advanced economies to see a decline in research investment . We risk losing our talent and our influence.??

This shortfall is further exacerbated by the fact that Canadian businesses do not invest in R&D at the same rate as our global peers which is needed to bring innovative products and services to market and spur job creation in our communities.??

We need bigger investments in academic research; more collaborations with industry to translate big ideas into action, and we need stronger linkages between research, policy design and labour market demands if we are to maximize our potential with other countries around the world and advance the values that we hold dear.??

We cannot be multilateralists alone and we have an important contribution to make not just in defining the critical questions that need to be asked but in advancing solutions where human rights are at the centre. What we desire for ourselves — access to education, healthcare and the freedom to pursue what makes us happy and healthy — we must also want for others around the world.??

Our researchers are collaborating with partners around the world sharing knowledge for the benefit of all and building crucial bridges of diplomacy. For example, Jude Kong, a professor at York’s Faculty of Science is working alongside countries in the Global South to develop equitable and responsible AI solutions to enable health systems to respond to infectious disease outbreaks for the most susceptible populations. His research is supported by a $7.5M IDRC grant.?

Researchers at the York Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research are working in partnership with Médecins sans Frontières (MSF/Doctors Without Borders) to launch the Safe Water Optimization Tool that uses machine learning to analyze water quality and ensure safe drinking water in refugee and displaced persons camps. ?

But that cannot and will not continue without enhanced investment. The opportunity for Canada is great but the window is shrinking.??