Guterres Warns of “Unsustainable World” as UN General Assembly Begins
UN Secretary-General António Guterres issued a stark warning to world leaders Tuesday, describing a “powder keg” of global challenges that threaten to engulf the world, The Associated Press reports.
As the annual General Assembly debate commenced, Guterres highlighted a trifecta of threats: impunity, inequality, and uncertainty.
“We can’t go on like this,” Guterres declared, stressing the growing number of countries who seem to believe they are exempt from accountability. “A growing number of governments and others feel entitled to a ‘get out of jail free’ card,” he said, referencing the classic board game Monopoly.
Guterres’ warning comes amidst a backdrop of escalating global divisions. Major wars in Gaza, Ukraine, and Sudan cast a long shadow, while the potential for wider conflict in the Middle East continues to loom, according to the report.
Guterres referenced a “threatened global security system,” citing geopolitical divides, nuclear posturing, and the development of new weapons and theaters of war.
He also pointed to a widening chasm of inequality, the absence of a robust global system to address emerging threats, and the devastating impact of climate change.
Despite the bleak picture painted, Guterres emphasized the solvability of these challenges. He urged the international community to confront uncertainty, address the root causes of inequality, and ensure accountability by upholding international law and the founding principles of the UN.
The General Assembly debate will be a crucial platform for world leaders to address these issues, seeking solutions and charting a path towards a more sustainable future.
