The World is in ‘Great Peril,’ The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres Warns Global Leaders
The United Nations Secretary-General has warned world leaders that the world is in “grave jeopardy.”
The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, issued a dire warning to world leaders on Monday, stating that the planet is in “grave jeopardy.”
On Monday, during a gathering to promote the UN’s 2030 objectives, Guterres said that the world’s many immediate hazards make it “tempting to put our long-term development ambitions to one side.” Photos courtesy of the Associated Press.
The head of the United Nations has warned that the world is in “great peril”. That is the world’s leaders will be meeting in person for the first time in three years to discuss these issues, as well as the growing poverty and inequality in the world and the rifts between the world’s superpowers that have deepened since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Also read: During a United Nations gathering, Russia will accuse the Ukrainian military of “crimes.”
Ahead of the commencement of the leaders’ summit on Tuesday, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres made many speeches and statements in which he described the “immense” burden of rescuing the world, “which is really on fire,” as well as coping with the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic.
He also mentioned the generation-long dilemma of “a lack of access to money for poor nations to recover,” which has led to setbacks in areas like health care, education, and women’s rights.
This year’s annual meeting of world leaders kicks off on Tuesday, and Guterres will give his “state of the world” address then.
In a world “where geopolitical differences are putting all of us at danger,” the report will be “a sombre, substantive, and solutions-focused report card,” according to a spokeswoman for the United Nations.
Dujarric told reporters on Monday that the speaker “will not sugar-coat his words, but he will offer grounds for optimism.”
Europe’s first major war since World War II looms over the 77th General Assembly gathering of world leaders.
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has triggered a worldwide food crisis and widened rifts between key nations to a degree not seen since the end of the Cold War.
Nevertheless, the most recent list of speakers includes approximately 150 world leaders. That’s proof that the United Nations is still the location where world leaders meet secretly to debate the issues on the global agenda and perhaps come up with solutions, despite the world’s current state of discord.
A major concern is the potential nuclear disaster at Europe’s biggest nuclear facility, located in the southeast of Ukraine, which Russia has seized since February 24. This invasion not only threatens the independence of Russia’s smaller neighbour.
To avoid a bigger conflict and restore peace in Europe, leaders from various nations are working together. On the other hand, diplomatic progress is not anticipated this week.
A food crisis, particularly in poor nations, has resulted from the loss of crucial grain and fertiliser exports from Ukraine and Russia, while inflation and a growing cost of living have affected many more. Such topics will undoubtedly be discussed.
Guterres said Monday at a meeting to promote U.N. goals for 2030 that it is “tempting to put our long-term development goals on the back burner” because there are so many urgent problems in the world, like ending extreme poverty, giving all children a good education, and making sure men and women have the same rights.
The U.N. chief, however, stressed the urgency of addressing the climate catastrophe, as well as the need to provide access to great healthcare and a decent education for everyone. He pleaded for peace as well as government and private investment.
There have been some last-minute hiccups with the high-level conference due to the death of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II and her burial in London on Monday, which many international leaders attended.
Diplomatic and U.N. staff are scrambling because of changes in travel plans, event schedules, and the complicated speaking schedules of world leaders.
Due to the epidemic in 2020, the full General Debate took place online, but by 2021, it had evolved into a hybrid format.
With the exception of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, all 193 delegates to the General Assembly will be present in person this year.
Due to the “ongoing foreign invasion” and military conflicts, which necessitate his carrying out his “national defence and security obligations,” the assembly agreed last Friday to allow the Ukrainian leader to prerecord his statement, over the objections of Russia and a few friends.
For the last seven decades, Brazil has had the honour of starting General Assembly meetings as the first speaker.
The second speaker is generally the president of the United States, who represents the host nation at the United Nations.
Joe Biden was scheduled to speak today, but he needs to be at the burial of the queen, therefore his address has been moved until Wednesday morning. Macky Sall, the president of Senegal, will likely succeed Joe Biden.
