“Some might liken it to the World Cup of diplomacy,” Mr. Guterres noted.
“But this cannot be about scoring points – it must be about solving problems. There is too much at stake.”
A World Adrift in Unfamiliar Waters
The UN Secretary-General depicted a globe navigating through “turbulent, uncharted” waters, citing widening geopolitical divisions, increasing conflicts, climate change, uncontrolled technologies, and escalating inequalities as pressing issues calling for immediate action.
“International cooperation is foundering under pressures we’ve never encountered in our lives,” he noted.
Approximately 150 heads of state and government will gather in New York next week, accompanied by thousands of officials and diplomats.
Mr. Guterres announced that he will personally engage in over 150 bilateral meetings, urging leaders “to engage in direct dialogue with each other, to bridge divisions, to reduce risks, to find solutions.”
Key Emphases by the UN Chief
The Secretary-General prioritized peace, climate action, responsible innovation, gender equality, development financing, and UN reform as the week’s central themes.
He stressed the urgency of ending wars in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, and beyond, emphasizing the need for “a just, lasting peace in the Middle East anchored on a two-state solution.”
Regarding climate issues, he prompted countries to present more robust national plans to maintain global warming below the 1.5°C limit set in the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change, which is increasingly challenging to achieve.
Additionally, he declared the initiation of a Global Dialogue on AI Governance to ensure technology evolves with humanity’s benefits at its core.
Moving Beyond Statements to Action
The week will be distinguished by a first-of-its-kind biennial summit convening international financial institutions and world leaders to advance commitments on financing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are significantly off-track, along with commemorations of the 30th anniversary of the consequential Beijing conference on gender equality.
“The demands are vast, reflected in the length of our agenda,” Mr. Guterres stated, insisting that current global crises require more than “posturing and promises” but demand leadership dedicated to tangible progress.
He ended with a direct plea: “The United Nations is the platform. Next week is pivotal. Leaders must step up – and follow through.”
Source: https://news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2025/09/1165859
