UN chief addresses G20 Sherpas in Johannesburg, South Africa. UN chief calls for reform of global institutions at G20 Sherpa meeting UN
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres addressed the G20 Sherpas, or trusted representatives, today at a meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa. He called for a focus on equity, financial reform and advancing sustainable development.
“Many of the challenges we face today are rooted in the injustices that the African continent has historically suffered,” Guterres said.
He noted that Africa suffers from poverty, inequality and the climate crisis. The situation is aggravated by the fact that outdated global governance institutions do not correspond to the realities of the 21st century.
The need for reform
Guterres emphasized that existing institutions, including the UN Security Council, were created decades ago and are no longer able to cope with the challenges of our time.
“[Global] institutions need to be updated,” he stressed. The Secretary-General recalled that the Future Summit in September adopted the Pact for the Future, which provides for large-scale reforms of the global governance system.
Financial justice
He paid special attention to the need to reform international financial institutions to ensure fair representation of developing countries.
Guterres called on G20 countries to take measures to increase the capital and lending capacity of multilateral development banks (MDBs), noting their unique ability to mobilize resources.
“If a country puts one dollar into the capital of a multilateral development bank, that dollar can turn into five or even seven thanks to the bank’s access to financial markets,” he explained.
The Secretary-General also emphasized the importance of concessional financing and proposed taking into account not only countries’ GDP, but also their degree of vulnerability, referring to the recently approved UN comprehensive index vulnerabilities.
Guterres also focused on the issue of sovereign debt, calling for a more effective architecture for resolving debt crises. “We are still far from having an instrument capable of dealing with the global debt problem,” the UN chief noted.
The Secretary-General called on participants to actively prepare for the conference on financing for development, which will be held in Spain in July 2024, stressing the importance of involving finance ministers and central banks in this process.
Climate justice
Guterres recalled the climate crisis and stressed that the G20 countries, which are responsible for a significant share of harmful emissions, must take a leading role in the energy transition.
“By next year, every government must submit new national climate plans that are consistent with the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius,” the Secretary-General emphasized.
He also called on developed countries to double their funding for climate change adaptation and support developing countries through initiatives such as the Reparations Fund. Guterres paid special attention to the equitable use of Africa’s mineral resources, which are essential for the global transition to clean energy. “We cannot repeat the mistakes of the past,” the UN chief warned.
Technological Justice
Guterres noted that technological progress, including digitalization and the development of artificial intelligence, should be available to all countries. He recalled that the Future Summit adopted the Global Digital Compact, which provides for the creation of a scientific commission on AI and measures to expand access of developing countries to these technologies.
“The compact ensures that every country will participate in the discussion of the development of artificial intelligence on an equal footing,” the Secretary-General noted.
Guterres called on the G20 participants to join efforts to achieve the intended goals. He expressed support for South Africa’s G20 presidency in 2025 and the country’s efforts to promote solidarity and equality.