UN chief Guterres warns against 'new Cold War'
Summary
TLDRThe Secretary-General addresses the UN General Assembly, highlighting the convergence of global crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and geopolitical tensions. He calls for international solidarity, a global ceasefire, and a new social contract to build a sustainable, inclusive future. Emphasizing the need for a fair globalization, he advocates for a new global pact that ensures equitable distribution of power, wealth, and opportunities.
Takeaways
- 🌐 The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly altered the global landscape, highlighting the interconnectedness of our world and the need for a unified response.
- 🏹 The 'four horsemen' of global threats—geostrategic tensions, climate crisis, global mistrust, and the dark side of the digital world—have been joined by a fifth, COVID-19, exacerbating each of these issues.
- 📉 The pandemic has exposed vulnerabilities in our society, leading to rising poverty, declining human development indicators, and a setback in achieving sustainable development goals.
- 🌿 There is an urgent call for a global ceasefire to focus on overcoming the pandemic and to prevent further conflict from complicating an already dire situation.
- 👥 The Secretary-General emphasizes the importance of solidarity, humility, and unity in the face of the pandemic, as individualistic approaches have proven ineffective.
- 🛑 Populism and nationalism have been identified as failures in managing the crisis, with a disconnect between leadership and power being a significant issue.
- 🌱 A new social contract is needed that focuses on social cohesion, universal health coverage, and access to education and technology for all, ensuring a more inclusive society.
- 💡 The recovery from the pandemic must be used as an opportunity to build a better, more sustainable world, with a focus on renewable energy and a transition to a green economy.
- 👩👧👦 Women and girls are disproportionately affected by the pandemic, and there is a need to address gender inequality and increase efforts to combat violence against women and girls.
- 🌍 The call for a 'new global pact' suggests the need for a fairer globalization that respects human rights, nature, and future generations, with a focus on sustainable development.
- 🔄 The multilateral system must be modernized and inclusive, capable of innovation and addressing global challenges in a coordinated manner.
Q & A
What significant changes have the COVID-19 pandemic brought to the annual meeting of the General Assembly?
-The COVID-19 pandemic has transformed the annual meeting of the General Assembly beyond recognition, making it more important than ever due to the unprecedented global challenges it presents.
What were the 'four horsemen' identified by the speaker in January that pose threats to our common future?
-The 'four horsemen' identified were the highest global geostrategic tensions in years, an existential climate crisis, deep and growing global mistrust, and the dark side of the digital world.
How has the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the existing threats?
-The pandemic has joined the four horsemen, intensifying their impact, causing a grim tally of loss and societal challenges, and exposing the world's fragilities such as rising inequalities and climate catastrophe.
What are the consequences of the pandemic on poverty and human development indicators?
-For the first time in 30 years, poverty is rising, and human development indicators are declining due to the pandemic's impact on the most vulnerable and the wiping away of decades of progress.
What is the speaker's call to action regarding the global ceasefire?
-The speaker calls for a new push by the international community to make a global ceasefire a reality by the end of the year, emphasizing that there is only one winner in conflict during a pandemic: the virus itself.
What is the significance of the 100-day period mentioned by the speaker?
-The 100-day period signifies a critical time frame for the international community to work towards achieving a global ceasefire and to prevent further conflict and suffering during the pandemic.
What are the key areas of concern regarding the risk of a new cold war?
-The risk of a new cold war is centered around the potential for the two largest economies to split the globe into a great fracture, each with its own trade, financial rules, and technological capacities, leading to a dangerous technological and economic divide.
What is the United Nations' comprehensive response to the pandemic?
-The United Nations' response includes supporting governments, particularly in the developing world, to save lives and contain the virus spread, providing personal protective equipment and medical supplies, extending assistance to vulnerable populations, and mobilizing the UN system in development and emergency mode.
What is the importance of a 'new social contract' in the context of the pandemic's impact on society?
-A new social contract is crucial for building sustainable and inclusive societies, ensuring social cohesion, investing in social protection, and providing access to education and digital technologies for everyone, thereby addressing the social and economic consequences of the pandemic.
What are the six measures the speaker suggests for countries to include in their efforts to save, rebuild, and relaunch their economies?
-The measures include making societies more resilient, creating green jobs and lasting growth, safeguarding industries in line with the Paris Agreement, ending subsidies to fossil fuels, considering climate change in financial and political decisions, and ensuring no one is left behind in the recovery process.
What is the vision for the multilateral system of the 21st century according to the speaker?
-The vision for the 21st-century multilateral system is one that is capable of constant innovation, inclusive, expands participation broadly, and integrates sustainable development principles in all decision-making processes to ensure a green, sustainable, and equitable economy.
Outlines
🌐 Global Challenges and the Impact of COVID-19
The Secretary-General addresses the General Assembly, reflecting on the profound changes brought by the COVID-19 pandemic and its exacerbation of existing global issues. He identifies the pandemic as the 'fifth horseman,' joining other threats such as geostrategic tensions, climate crisis, global mistrust, and digital world challenges. The pandemic's impact includes a significant health crisis, economic downturn, job losses, and human rights threats. It has exposed global vulnerabilities, increased inequalities, and set back progress on sustainable development goals. The Secretary-General calls for humility, unity, and solidarity in response, emphasizing the need for science-guided, reality-based leadership and the importance of international cooperation.
🕊️ Pursuit of Global Ceasefires and Peace Initiatives
This paragraph highlights the Secretary-General's call for a global ceasefire amidst the pandemic, urging the international community to work towards peace within 100 days. It discusses recent peace agreements and ceasefires in various conflict zones, such as Sudan, Afghanistan, Syria, the Middle East, Libya, Ukraine, the Central African Republic, and South Sudan. The paragraph also addresses the challenges of maintaining ceasefires due to deep mistrust and the influence of spoilers. The Secretary-General emphasizes the need for a collective push for peace and reconciliation to avoid a new cold war and the importance of addressing the socio-economic and humanitarian impacts of terrorism and violent extremism.
🏥 United Nations' Response to the Pandemic
The Secretary-General outlines the United Nations' comprehensive response to the COVID-19 pandemic, detailing the organization's efforts to support governments, particularly in developing countries. The UN has facilitated the provision of personal protective equipment and medical supplies to over 130 countries, extended humanitarian assistance to vulnerable populations, and activated its country teams for policy guidance. The UN is also combating misinformation, promoting treatments and therapies, and advocating for a 'people's vaccine' that is accessible and affordable globally. The paragraph underscores the importance of equitable vaccine distribution and the economic rescue packages, stressing the need to prevent a financial ruin in the developing world.
🌱 Building a Sustainable and Inclusive Post-Pandemic World
In this paragraph, the Secretary-General discusses the need for a new social contract that fosters sustainable, inclusive societies, with a focus on social cohesion, social protection policies, and access to education and digital technologies. He emphasizes the importance of gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, as well as the need to address the increase in violence against women during the pandemic. The paragraph also calls for a transition to renewable energy, aiming for zero net emissions by 2050, and outlines six measures for rebuilding economies in a way that promotes resilience, green jobs, and climate considerations. The Secretary-General advocates for a new global pact that ensures the equitable distribution of power, wealth, and opportunities, and for modernizing multilateral institutions to better represent all peoples.
🔧 Strengthening Multilateralism and International Cooperation
The final paragraph of the script focuses on the necessity of strengthened multilateralism and international cooperation in the face of global challenges. The Secretary-General calls for a 21st-century multilateral system that is capable of innovation, inclusive, and benefits people while protecting the planet. He emphasizes the need for a global governance system that is fair, harmonious with nature, and responsible towards future generations. The paragraph also addresses the importance of integrating sustainable development principles into all decision-making processes and ensuring that the global financial and trade systems support a green, sustainable, and equitable economy. The Secretary-General concludes by reflecting on the United Nations' 75th anniversary and the opportunity for profound reflection on our common agenda for the future, promising to report back with recommendations for shared aims.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Pandemic
💡Geostrategic tensions
💡Climate crisis
💡Global mistrust
💡Digital divide
💡Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
💡Global ceasefire
💡Human rights
💡Vaccinalism
💡Multilateralism
💡New social contract
Highlights
The COVID-19 pandemic has transformed the General Assembly meeting and emphasized its importance.
Four horsemen of threats to our common future were identified: global geostrategic tensions, climate crisis, global mistrust, and the dark side of the digital world, with COVID-19 emerging as the fifth.
The pandemic has exacerbated global fragilities, inequalities, and vulnerabilities, particularly impacting the most vulnerable populations.
For the first time in 30 years, poverty is on the rise, and progress on human development indicators is declining.
The call for a global ceasefire to focus on combating the pandemic and to unite against common threats.
The appeal for a new push by the international community to achieve a global ceasefire within 100 days.
The necessity of recognizing that solidarity is self-interest in an interconnected world.
The importance of acting in unity, guided by science, and avoiding the pitfalls of populism and nationalism.
The United Nations' comprehensive response to the pandemic, including support for governments and the provision of medical supplies.
The need for a massive global rescue package equivalent to at least 10% of the global economy.
The focus on women and girls who are disproportionately affected by the pandemic's social and economic consequences.
The call for a new social contract that ensures sustainable, inclusive societies with a focus on social cohesion and an end to discrimination.
The transition towards renewable energies and the goal of zero net emissions by 2050 as part of the recovery measures.
The proposal of six measures for rebuilding economies that are resilient, green, and equitable.
The need for a new global pact that guarantees essential public goods to all peoples and addresses historic injustices in power structures.
The call for modernizing multilateral institutions to represent all peoples equitably and to expand participation to more stakeholders.
The importance of international cooperation and strengthened multilateral institutions in overcoming today's challenges.
The opportunity presented by the pandemic to rethink and reinvent economies and societies for a better, sustainable future.
Transcripts
mr president
excellencies in a world
turned upside down this general assembly
all
is among the strangest sites of all the
covet 19 pandemic has changed our annual
meeting beyond recognition
but it has made it more important than
ever
in january i addressed the general
assembly and identified four horsemen in
our midst
for threats that endanger our common
future
first the highest global geostrategic
tensions in years
second an existential climate crisis
third deep and growing global mistrust
and forced the dark side of the digital
world
but the fifth horseman was lurking in
the shadows
since january the covet-19 pandemic has
galloped across
the globe joining the four other
horsemen
and adding to the fury of each and every
day the grim tall grows
families grieve society stagger
and the pillars of our world wobble on
already shaky footings
we face simultaneously an epical health
crisis
the biggest economic calamity and job
losses since the great depression
and dangerous new threats to human
rights
coveted 19 has laid bare the world's
fragilities
rising inequalities climate catastrophe
widening social societal divisions
rampant corruption
the pandemic has exploited his
injustices preyed on the most vulnerable
and wiped away the progress of decades
for the first time in 30 years poverty
is rising
human development indicators are
declining and we are cleaning off track
in achieving the sustainable development
goals
meanwhile nuclear non-proliferation
efforts are slipping away
and we are failing to act in areas of
emerging danger
particularly cyberspace people
are hurting our planet is burning
our world is struggling stressed and
seeking real leadership and action
excellencies we face a foundational
moment
those who built united nations 75 years
ago
had lived through a pandemic global
depression genocide and world war
they knew the cost of discord and the
value of unity
they fashioned a visionary response
embodied in our founding charter
with people at the center today
we face our own 1945 moment
the pandemic is a crisis unlike any we
have ever seen
but it is also the kind of crisis that
we will see in the different forms
again and again covert 19 is not only a
wake-up call is a dress rehearsal for
the world
of challenges to come we must move
forward with humility
recognizing that the microscopic virus
has brought the world to its knees
and we must be united we have seen when
countries go in their own direction
the virus goes in every direction we
must act in solidarity
far too little assistance has been
extended to countries with the fewest
capacities
to face the challenge and we must be
guided by science
and tethered to reality
populism and nationalism have failed
those approaches to contain the virus
have often made things manifestly
worse too often there has also been a
disconnect between leadership
and power we see remarkable examples of
leadership
but they are not usually associated with
power
and power is not always associated with
the necessary leadership
in an interconnected world it is time to
recognize a simple truth
solidarity is self-interest
if we fail to grasp that fact everyone
loses
excellencies as the pandemic took hold
i called for a global ceasefire
today i appeal for a new push by the
international community
to make this a reality by the end of
this year
we have exactly 100 days
there is only one winner of conflict
during a pandemic
the virus itself and my original appeal
was endorsed by 108
member states along with religious
leaders regional religious partners
civil society networks and others
and the number of armed movements also
responded from cameroon to colombia to
the philippines and beyond
even if several of the ceasefires they
announced were not sustained
enormous obstacles stand in the way
deep mistrust spoilers
and the weight of fighting that has
fasted for years
but we have reasons to be hopeful a new
peace agreement in the republic of the
sudan between the government and art
movements
marks the start of a new era
particularly for people living in darfur
south kordofan and the blue nile
in afghanistan the launch of the
afghanistan peace negotiations is a
milestone after years of effort
how to reach a permanent and
comprehensive ceasefire
will be on the agenda an inclusive peace
process
with women young people and victims of
conflict
meaningfully represented offers the best
hope
for a sustainable solution in several
situations
we have seen new ceasefires holding
better than in the past
or in their absence stand still in the
fighting
in syria the ceasefire in idlib is
largely intact
after more than nine years of conflict
and colossal suffering
i renew my appeal for an end to
hostilities across the country
as we work towards convening the next
round of the constitutional committee
in the middle east with a period of
relative calm in gaza
and annexation of parts of the occupied
west bank put aside
at least for the time being i urge
israeli and palestinian leaders to
re-engage in meaningful negotiations
that will realize a two-state solution
in line with relevant u.n resolutions
international law
and bilateral agreements in libya
fighting has subsided but the massive
buildup of mercenaries and weapons
in flagrant violation of security
council resolutions
shows the risk of renewed confrontation
remains high we must all work together
for an effective ceasefire agreement
and resumption of inter-libyan political
talks
in ukraine the most recent ceasefire
regime remains in place
but progress on the outstanding security
and political issues and the trilateral
contact group
and the normandy iv format to implement
the misagreements
will be critical in the central african
republic
last year's peace deal helped deliver a
significant reduction in violence
and at the auspices of our unp skipping
mission and with the backing of the
international community
the national dialogue is underway to
support upcoming elections
and continued implementation of the
peace agreement
and in south sudan we have seen a
troubling spike in inter-communal
violence
but the ceasefire between the two main
parties has mostly had
with our u.n peacekeeping mission
providing support for monitoring
as well as implementation of the peace
agreement
now even where conflict is raging
we will not give up the search for peace
in yemen we are fully engaged in
bringing the parties together
to reach an agreement on the joint
declaration comprised of a national
ceasefire economic and humanitarian
confidence building measures
and resumption of the political process
excellencies in areas where terrorist
groups are particularly active
the obstacles to peace will be much more
difficult to overcome
in the science and the lake chad region
we see the pandemics overlapping health
socioeconomic political
and humanitarian impacts at play i'm
particularly concerned that terrorist
and violent extremist groups
will exploit the pandemic and we must
not forget the dramatic humanitarian
cost
of war in many places the pandemic
coupled with conflict and disruption
is dealing crippling blows to food
security
millions of people in the democratic
republic of the congo
northeast nigeria south sudan as well as
yemen
face the risk of family now is the time
for a collective new push
for peace and reconciliation
and so i appeal for a stepped-up
international effort
led by the security council to achieve a
global ceasefire
by the end of this year we have 100 days
as i said
the clock is ticking the world
needs a global ceasefire to stop all
hot conflicts but at the same time
we must do everything to avoid a new
cold war
we are moving in a very dangerous
direction
our world cannot afford the future where
the two largest economies split the
globe
in a great fracture each with its own
trade and financial rules and
internet and artificial intelligence
capacities
a technological and economic divide
risks inevitably turning into a
geostrategic
and military divide and we must avoid
these
at all costs excellencies
in the face of the all-encompassing
challenge of the pandemic
the united nations has mounted a
comprehensive response
the u.n system led by the world house
organization has supported governments
particularly in the developing world to
save lives
and contain the spread of the virus our
global supply chains have helped to
provide
personal protective equipment and other
medical supplies to more than 130
countries
we have extended life-saving assistance
to the most vulnerable countries and
people
including refugees and those internally
displaced through a global humanitarian
response plan and we have mobilized the
full un system in development emergency
mode
activated our u.n country teams and
rapidly issue
policy guidance to support governments
the verified campaign is fighting
misinformation online
a toxic virus shaking the democratic
underpinnings in many countries
we are working to advance treatments and
therapies as a global public good
and backing efforts for a people's
vaccine available
and affordable everywhere
we know some countries are reportedly
making side deals
exclusive for their own populations
such vaccinationalism is not only unfair
it is self-defeating none of us is safe
until all of us are safe everybody knows
that
likewise economies cannot run with a
runway pandemic
since the beginning we have pushed for a
massive rescue package with at least
10 percent of the global economy now
developed countries have proved it
provided enormous relief for their own
societies
and they can afford it but we need to
ensure that the developing world does
not fall into financial ruin
escalating poverty and debt crisis
we need a collective commitment to avoid
a downward spiral one week from today
we will bring together world leaders
to find solutions at the meeting on
financing for development in the area of
kovite 19
and beyond and in all we do
we are putting a special focus on women
and girls
half of humanity is bearing the brunt of
the social and economic consequences of
cave 19.
women are disproportionately represented
in the sectors hit
hardest by job losses women do most of
the unpaid care work generated by the
pandemic
and women have fewer economic resources
to fall back on
because their wages are lower and they
have less access to benefits
at the same time millions of young girls
are losing their chance of an education
in the future
as schools close and child marriage is
on the rise
unless we act now gender equality could
be set back
by decades we must also stamp out the
horrific horrifying increase in violence
against women and girls during the
pandemic
from domestic violence to sexual abuse
online harassment
and febicides this is a heathen war on
women
preventing and ending it requires the
same commitment
and resources that we devote to other
forms
of warfare excellence
your excellencies beyond the emergency
measures our recovery
measures today should create the basis
for the better world
tomorrow this is our chance to reinvent
our economies in our societies
and we do have the road maps for app for
that we have the united nations
charter the universal declaration of
human rights the 2030 program and the
paris agreement
and this relaunch has to strengthen our
resilience at the national level this
requires a new social contract but
internationally speaking a new global
pact
the new social contract should enable us
to build societies which are which are
sustainable and inclusive and inclusion
means
investing in social cohesion and putting
an end to all kinds of exclusion all
kinds of discrimination
and racism it also means
putting together a new uh
policies for social protection including
for example universal health coverage
and the possibility of a universal
minimal income
social inclusion also means providing
everyone with access to education in
having giving people the benefit of
digital technologies
these are the two main vectors of
empowerment nowadays
and this means that we should have
fiscal systems wherein
to which everyone including and mostly
companies
equitably contribute this means placing
human rights in the direct line of the
appeal to action for human rights that i
launched this year
this means the equality of rights and
opportunities for women and girls
the pandemic has very clearly showed how
effective women can be when they hold
their reigns
25 years after beijing the current
uh generation of young girls should be
in a position to implement its ambitions
in its unlimited potential
ladies and gentlemen in order to be
truly lasting the new social
contract has to ensure
that the tran we transition towards
renewable er energies and that we attend
the goal of zero net emissions by 2050.
i ask all countries to include
six measures in their efforts to save
rebuild and relaunch their economies
first of all
this our societies need to be made more
resilient and the transition has to be
fairly achieved
secondly we need to have green jobs and
lasting growth
thirdly uh safeguarding industries
aviation and maritime transport is
something that needs to
have in its conditions in line with the
objectives of the paris agreement
fourthly and we need to put an end to
these subsidies to fossil fuels
fifthly it is imperative to take into
account climate uh
change in all of the financial and
political decisions which are made and
six we need to act together making sure
that no one's left behind
but to truly bring down fragilities and
risks and to resolve the problems we all
have in common
we also need a new global pact
internationally
this new pact should guarantee that
political and economic systems in the
world provide essential public goods to
all peoples
today that is not the case the
governance structures
and the ethical frameworks show
deep gaps in order to rectify this
we have to make sure that there's a
widespread and equitable share
of power wealth and opportunities the
new global pact has to be based on
globalization which is fair
which is based on the rights and dignity
of each human being
is in harmony with nature and is based
on our responsibilities towards
future generations we have to integrate
the principles
of sustainable development in all
decision-making processes
in order to make sure that the flow of
resources goes towards
an economy which is green sustainable
and equitable
and the global financial systems also
has to move in that direction
trade has to be free and fair without
distorting subsidies
or barriers which disadvantage
developing economies
the new pact also has to go after the
historic injustices we have in power
structures throughout the world
more than 70 years after they were
created multilateral institution
institutions have to be modernized
so to represent more equitably all of
the peoples throughout the world
rather than disproportionately
conferring power on some
and limiting the influence of others
especially developing world
no necessity your excellencies we do not
need
new bureaucracies or more red tape we
need a multilateral system
capable of constant innovation that
benefits our people and protects our
planet
the multilateralism of the 21st century
must act in concert
it must be able to link together across
the various sectors and geographical
regions
global institutions ranging from
development banks to regional
organizations
and including the various trade
partnerships
the multilateralism of the 21st century
must be inclusive
it must expand participation more
broadly to encompass more stakeholders
tapping the potential of civil society
regions and cities
businesses foundations and academic and
scientific institutions
this is how we will guarantee an
effective multilateralism
meet and fit for the challenges of the
21st century
dear friends across the world we cannot
respond to this crisis by going back to
what was
or we throwing into national shells to
overcome today's fertilities and
challenges we need
more international cooperation not less
strengthened multilateral institutions
not a retreat from them
better global governance not a chaotic
free-for-all
the pandemic has appended the world but
that upheaval has created space
for something new ideas once considered
impossible are suddenly on the table
large scale action no longer seems so
daunting in just months
billions of people have fundamentally
changed how they work consume
move and interact large-scale financing
has suddenly proven possible
australians have been deployed to rescue
economies
in commemorating the 75th anniversary of
the united nations
the general assembly has invited me to
report on our common agenda for the
future
i welcome this opportunity for a process
of profound reflection involving us all
and i report back next year with
analysis and recommendations
on how we can reach our shared aims
let us draw inspiration from our
achievements across the history of the
united nations
let us respond affirmatively to the
movements of justice and dignity we see
in the world
and let us vanquish the five hours man
and build the world we need
peaceful inclusive and sustainable
the pandemic has taught us that our
choices
matter as we look to the future let us
make sure we choose
wisely thank you
i thank the secretary general for his
presentation
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