UN Secretary-General António Guterres addresses the General Assembly with his priorities for 2025. UN Secretary-General presents priorities for 2025 UN
Our actions – or inactions – have opened a “modern Pandora’s box.” This was stated by UN chief António Guterres, addressing the General Assembly with his priorities for 2025.
“The United Nations reflects a core truth: global problems require global solutions,” he stressed.
The Secretary-General highlighted the main challenges of our time: conflicts, inequality, the climate crisis and the dangers associated with new technologies. Addressing these problems must become a priority for the global community, Guterres believes.
Peace and Human Rights
Conflicts are growing in the world, human rights are constantly violated, and impunity is widespread, Guterres warned.
“The war in Ukraine has been going on for four years. We must make every effort to establish a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in accordance with the UN Charter, international law and General Assembly resolutions,” the UN chief said.
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He recalled that the UN continues to call for a ceasefire in Gaza, the immediate and unconditional release of hostages, as well as urgent measures to protect civilians and ensure humanitarian assistance.
“From Myanmar and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Yemen and far beyond, we must continue to work for peace,” he added.
Inequality and Development
Another scourge of our time, according to the UN chief’s speech, is inequality.
This year, according to Guterres, the international community has opportunities to make a breakthrough in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, for example, the G20 summit under the presidency of South Africa and the UN Climate Conference (COP-30) in Brazil.
The Pact for the Future calls on all countries to achieve full gender equality, the UN chief recalled, and the Declaration on Future Generations obliges to strengthen the participation of young people in decision-making at national and global levels levels.
The Secretary-General also called for an end to the spread of hatred and intolerance, including anti-Semitism, anti-Muslim bigotry and discrimination against Christian minorities.
Climate Crisis
The climate crisis has also unleashed a “modern Pandora’s box,” the UN chief continued, recalling the disaster now unfolding in the Los Angeles area.
According to him, 10 years after the signing of the Paris Agreement, 90 percent of the world’s countries have committed to achieving net zero emissions, but progress needs to be accelerated.
Global emissions must start falling as soon as possible if we are to have any hope of limiting long-term global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees, the Secretary-General said. He called for innovative sources of financing, including by introducing liability for high-polluting countries.
New technologies
The technological revolution offers unprecedented opportunities for humanity, the UN chief stressed, but also requires regulation. “We have a historic responsibility to ensure that this revolution benefits humanity, and not just a privileged few,” Guterres said.
The Global Digital Compact is a plan of action, with a special focus on artificial intelligence (AI). The UN must act – quickly and decisively – on three fronts: first, equal access for all people to AI knowledge and ideas; second, governance in AI that protects human rights and promotes innovation; and third, supporting developing countries in using AI for sustainable development.
To achieve all these goals, the new UN Office on Digital and Emerging Technologies will support States.
There is still hope
The Secretary-General recalled that, according to the myth, there was one more thing left in Pandora’s box: hope.
“We will never lose hope,” Guterres said.
In In the 80th year since the creation of the United Nations, he called for a more peaceful, just and prosperous world that, despite everything, is within reach.