In 2017, UN Chief António Guterres opened the 72nd Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) issuing a stern warning to his audience; as a result of climate change, “extreme weather events are expected to become more frequent and severe.”
5 years later, at the 77th UNGA this week, his opening speech was instead a sobering depiction of how his previous caution has now become a reality, with natural disasters in many parts of the world providing a “window into the future” of “permanent and ubiquitous climate chaos on an unimaginable scale.”
Five years ago he implored world leaders to unite and take action together. This week, he held the wealthiest nations to account for the “sheer inadequacy of the global response to the climate crisis.”
The UN General Assembly is a forum that unites the world’s powers through multilateral discussion and promotes international cooperation. Solidarity is at its core. However, at this week’s opening press conference, the UN Chief’s introductory rhetoric set a sharp and reproving tone for the upcoming summit.
His words were urgent, accusatory, and distressing, painting a harrowing yet realistic picture of the state of the world as we know it.
Our world is blighted by war, battered by climate chaos, scarred by hate, and shamed by poverty & hunger.
This #UNGA I will address these issues with concrete recommendations & a call to action.
We need to come together around solutions – and we need to give hope. pic.twitter.com/au8lwHGXCc
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) September 14, 2022
“The General Assembly is meeting at a time of great peril”
Overall, Guterres’ speech provided context and clarity on the focus of this year’s debate; addressing the “dramatic challenges” the world is currently facing, and providing “concrete recommendations and a call to action.”
“Don’t flood the world today; don’t drown it tomorrow”
The UN Chief left little room for pleasantry however, as after a brief welcome message he jumped straight into the “simply heartbreaking” events he recently witnessed in Pakistan.
Recalling his recent trip to the country still being devastated by floods, he insisted to the assembly that “no picture can convey the scope of this catastrophe. The flooded area is three times the size of my entire country, Portugal.”
Directly and plainly, Guterres went on to make it very clear that the negligence of the developed world is to blame for the increasing frequency and intensity of climate-induced natural disasters.
Let’s stop sleepwalking towards the destruction of our planet by climate change.
Today, it is Pakistan. Tomorrow, it could be your country.
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) August 30, 2022
“G20 countries are responsible”
The UN Chief openly rebuked G20 countries, who are responsible for 80% of emissions, where he says “climate action seems to be flatlining.”
Directly criticizing the developed world’s inability to compromise and cut emissions, Guterres accused wealthy nations of “betrayal and injustice,” stating that the actions of “big emitters” are now manifesting in “the world’s most vulnerable” who are experiencing “devastating loss of life” and “enormous human suffering.”
His message to the G20 Heads of State was sharp and clear: “lower the temperature — now.”
This firm instruction comes as the World Meteorological Organization’s (WMO) latest “United in Science” report shows global carbon dioxide emissions are again on the rise, now above pre-pandemic levels, and climate experts recently revealed the world is accelerating towards dangerous “climate tipping points,” causing irreversible damage to the planet.
Latest #UnitedInScience report shows climate impacts heading into uncharted territories of destruction.
Yet each year we double-down on our fossil fuel addiction.
I urge leaders to heed the facts of this report & turn pledges into #ClimateAction.
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) September 13, 2022
“Protect people and economies”
The UN Chief’s other explicit message to the 193 member states in attendance, was that “against all divisions … we need to come together around solutions.”
He emphasized the urgency with which unity, cooperation and action are required to protect the international community, as “fractures deepen and trust evaporates” and “our world is blighted by war, battered by climate chaos, scarred by hate, and shamed by poverty, hunger, and inequality.”
“Conflicts and unrest continue to rage”
Guterres also drew attention to the political polarization and instability feeding a multitude of “geostrategic divides” which are “dragging down the global economy.”
His words allude to the intensifying tensions between the United States, Russia and China over the Arctic and Taiwan, the recent yet familiar dispute between Turkey and Greece over Aegean Island militarisation, and also the escalating standoff between Europe and Russia over energy and the war in Ukraine.
Division is the widest it’s been “since at least the Cold War” said Guterres.
“Prejudice, discrimination, misinformation”
The UN Chief held certain member states accountable for the rising geopolitical tension, by accusing “nationalism” and “self-interest” of getting in the way of upholding the four pillars of the United Nations 1945 Charter.
He called attention to the resulting acceleration in inequality, and remarked at the “shocking disregard for the poorest and most vulnerable in our world.”
Amongst many targets The UN Chief brought into the firing line, politicians, the global financial system, and fossil fuel corporations were particularly hung up to dry.
He went on to recite a damning list of escalating ethical, economic, political and societal injustices that are fueling inequality and extremism, devastating international cooperation, and “killing the planet.”
His criticism highlights the change required at the individual, societal and institutional levels, and his recommendations underline the central message of the UN Development Program’s recent report.
“People need to see results in their everyday lives, or they will lose faith in their governments and institutions, and they will lose hope in the future.”
The UNDP report reveals how the continuous onslaught of back-to-back global crises and worldwide unrest is causing an unprecedented rise in an “uncertainty complex.” The ensuing destabilization is “paralyzing the global response to the dramatic challenges we face,” and for the first time ever, causing human development to reverse.
The UN Chief’s remarks served as a stark reminder of how the world is straying off course of the 2030 Agenda’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which continue to be an urgent call to action for all member states of the UN General Assembly.
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“Poverty, hunger, and inequality”
In reference to SDG 2 “Zero Hunger”, Guterres highlighted the Russian-Ukrainian war-induced food crisis, warning “there is a real risk of multiple famines this year.”
He reiterated that since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, we’ve seen a sharp increase in global hunger, which up until then had been consistently declining.
On the pandemic front however, Guterres’ damning comments to the world leaders of the assembly were in striking contrast to the head of the World Health Organization’s celebratory declaration to the global population; that the end of the Covid-19 pandemic was “in sight.” Different approaches for different audiences perhaps?
He also stressed how “the cost-of-living crisis is hitting the poorest people and communities hardest” drawing attention to the threats facing SDG 1 “No Poverty,”and that “the rights of women and girls are going into reverse,” a serious concern for the mission of SDG 5 “Gender Equality.”
During his time as UN Secretary General, Guterres has advocated strongly for gender equality within the UN Organization, bringing gender parity to most of the senior levels. By 2028, Guterres aims to expand on this, bringing parity to the entire organisation, so it’s no surprise that he also brought women’s rights into the spotlight within his opening speech.
Since I launched our Gender Parity Strategy, the number of @UN entities with 50% or more women staff has gone from 5 to 26.
This is a major step, and I will continue working to achieve parity across our Organization. https://t.co/004orN5uTj pic.twitter.com/OhggWCSMbu
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) September 13, 2022
The mission of the interlinked global SDGs is to provide a “blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet” – a sentiment thread throughout the entirety of Guterres’ speech, “concrete recommendations” and call to action.
To sum up: Although harsh in his words, Guterres also emphasized the importance of hope, solidarity, sustainable development, and scientific progress to address global challenges and enact change for the better, “with the G20 leading the way.”
In the UN Chief’s own words; “in these turbulent times, the work of the United Nations is more necessary than ever” to “prevent crises, manage risks and build a sustainable future for all.
The UNGA Agenda: What will be covered this year
The UN General Assembly as “the main policy-making organ of the Organization” is where “dialogue and debate” occur, the “beating heart of the United Nations.” This year’s program for the General Debate includes as always an inaugural minute of silent prayer or meditation, brief coverage of recent UN committee elections, and then it goes straight into the crux of a packed general debate agenda.
Major talking points of this year’s General Debate include:
- International cooperation, security, and culture of peace
- International trade and development
- Globalization, sustainable development, and economic growth
- Disaster risk reduction and the protection of global climate
- Biological diversity and harmony with nature
- International migration and the refugee crisis
- Eradication of poverty and development of food security
- Prevention of armed conflict
- International cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space
- Elimination of racism and xenophobia
- Promotion and protection of human rights, addressing crimes against humanity
- Nuclear weapons, disarmament, and reducing nuclear danger
The UN Chief stated that “this year’s General Debate must be about providing hope and overcoming the divisions that are dramatically impacting the world.”
Our world is blighted by war, battered by climate chaos, scarred by hate, and shamed by poverty & hunger.
This #UNGA I will address these issues with concrete recommendations & a call to action.
We need to come together around solutions – and we need to give hope. pic.twitter.com/au8lwHGXCc
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) September 14, 2022
The General Debate will be held from Tuesday September 20 to Monday September 26 2022.
Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed here by the authors are their own, not those of Impakter.com — In the Featured Photo: UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres in 2017. Featured Photo Credit: Faces Of The World/Flickr
