UN chief says people are looking to leaders for action and a way out of the current global ‘mess’

The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, has called upon world leaders to address the pressing global challenges that humanity faces. In a world marked by conflicts, climate change, and persistent inequality, Guterres emphasized the need for united action rather than mere rhetoric.

Guterres stressed that people around the world are looking to their leaders for solutions to the current crises, which include the worsening climate emergency, escalating conflicts, disruptive technological advancements, and a global cost-of-living crisis leading to increased hunger and poverty. He expressed concern that geopolitical divisions are hindering the global capacity to respond effectively to these challenges.

This year’s annual gathering of leaders at the General Assembly comes after the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and features 145 leaders scheduled to speak. The high number of leaders addressing the assembly underscores the multitude of crises and conflicts confronting the world.

Notably, U.S. President Joe Biden is the sole leader from the five veto-wielding nations on the U.N. Security Council who will address the assembly this year. Leaders from China, Russia, France, and Britain have chosen to abstain from attending, drawing attention to President Biden’s role in addressing key issues such as China, Russia, and Ukraine.

The absence of leaders from the four Security Council powers has sparked dissatisfaction among developing countries, who seek greater attention to their demands, including financial support to address global inequalities.

The G77, a significant U.N. group representing developing countries, advocated for this year’s gathering to focus on the 17 U.N. goals adopted by world leaders in 2015. However, progress toward these goals has been slow, with only 15% of specific targets on track, and many moving in the wrong direction.

These ambitious goals encompass ending extreme poverty and hunger, providing quality education for every child, achieving gender equality, and combating climate change by 2030. At the current pace, the report warns that millions will still live in extreme poverty, and gender equality will take nearly three centuries to achieve.

Secretary-General Guterres called on leaders to fulfill their promise to build a world of health, progress, and opportunity for all and to allocate the necessary resources for these objectives.

During the summit, leaders adopted a political declaration acknowledging the imperiled state of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) but reaffirming their commitment to achieving them. While short on specifics, the declaration highlighted the importance of improving developing countries’ access to financial resources, aiming for an SDG stimulus of at least $500 billion annually to assist these nations.

Leaders were expected to make pledges to support the SDGs during the summit, emphasizing the need for increased financial support to the world’s least developed countries.

Additionally, high-level discussions included efforts to revive the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians, with a commitment to the two-state solution and the establishment of working groups to examine the path to Israeli-Palestinian peace.

This year’s General Assembly session underscores the urgency of addressing global challenges and the role of world leaders in charting a path toward a more equitable and sustainable future.

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More about Global Challenges

• UN Chief Urges Action on Global Crises
• United Nations General Assembly
• Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
• U.S. President Joe Biden
• Veto-Wielding Members of the UN Security Council
• G77 – United Nations Group of Developing Countries
• Two-State Solution – Israel-Palestine